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| I Am Twenty |
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  (8/10)
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Runtime: 175 |
| Public Rating: 9.00 (4 votes) |
Director: Marlen Khutsiev |
MPAA Rating:  |
| Genre: Drama |
Year: 1964 |
| Writer(s): Marlen Khutsiev, Gennadi Shpalikov |
| Reviewed by: Vadim Rizov |
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Half Godard, half serious but worthy drama, with an unexpected bit of propaganda thrown in for good measure, Khutsiev's 3-hour epic is an
interesting, serious and even fun look at Moscow circa 1964. Some of it is idealized and lying: the clean communal apartments without alcoholics, the bright streets unlittered. Some of it is truthful and
feels true, even if Russians of that generation hadn't confirmed its truthfulness post-screening. Its all blended together so well, though, that truth and falsehood make a single fascinating film.
Sergei (Valentin Popov) returns to Moscow post-army experience, and hooks up with his old friends, holding down an undemanding post at the
power plant while growing increasingly sick of his meaningless and repetitive life. He and his pals eventually split up in different directions, and then the film does an ideological 180, extolling the glory of the Soviet state, and before you know it the final shot, of Lenin's tomb no less, has arrived.
The first half (and the film has a labeled second half, so you can
tell where the very definite boundaries begin) is clearly under the influence of the French New Wave. As Sergei and pals clown around Moscow, the light abandon of the film has many charming, whimsical moments. The highlight is the May Day parade, a bright and seemingly spontaneous display of happiness. Forgetting about the grandeur of the Soviet state, Khutsiev shows Moscow in clear, uncluttered and un show-offy shots. The feel is refreshingly un-propagandistic. The second half is serious and deals with somewhat cliched material; however, acted flawlessly, it comes through with effect and Khutsiev doesn't lose the viewer with his tonal shift. The ending propaganda is so unexpected and quick it can be forgiven.
I Am Twenty is clearly a film of its time, and it records its time and place in ways that the best time capsules do: with sympathy, perception and an acute eye and ear (it's especially interesting to note how, as with so many international films from the early 60s, jazz recordings are everywhere). Particularly lovely are the tracking shots taken from afar. Never leaving the city, Khutsiev shows a time and a place, as well as an acute if not thoroughly original character study. It's art, and naturally was cracked down on (unfortunately for Khutsiev, war on formalism had just been declared): cut in half and with key sequences exorcised, it was finally restored in 1989. Our gain; truly an unknown classic.
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