Tarkovsky-lite: contains his stylistic and philosophical hallmarks without the typically grand scope. For a student film, this certainly shows preternatural confidence in direction, and a mastery over the camera which would prevail throughout all his work - simple conversations are framed and lit in creative ways to hold viewer's attention, and the streets of Moscow are beautifully captured through shots of puddles, broken glass, and dilapidated buildings. As for the screenplay, this is a simple tale of an unlikely friendship, performed naturally and with dialogue that never gets too weighty despite its subject matter. Essentially a filmed portrayal of the "boots or Pushkin" debate; interesting that the title refers to the tools of both characters rather than the wielders themselves, as if that were what defines them. Hardly digs deep into ideas around class divisions and the value of art, though it achieves more than enough in a mere 46 minutes. A wonderful ending signifies only the beginning of an illustrious filmography.
Review of The Steamroller and the Violin
