NEWSFLASH: Tchaikovsky’s Wife (Kirill Serebrennikov; 2023) in UK cinemas Jan-Mar ’24

Matt Billingsley, editor and Iannucci aficionado, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this black comedy satire. It was effectively banned in Russia, but well-reviewed by Russian critics (if you don't read Russian, just count the thumbs-up).  CONTENT WARNING: the movie depicts multiple executions and implied sexual assault off-screen.  SPOILERS from about 10 minutes in until the end, although some things should be fairly easy to anticipate... The movie stars Steve Buscemi, Simon Russell Beale, Jeffrey Tambor, Michael Palin, Andrea Riseborough, Rupert Friend and Jason Isaacs (hello to Jason Isaacs, obviously). The show's intro music is Cold by Sasha Ilyukevich and the Highly Skilled Migrants. You can find more of their music at: https://thehighlyskilledmigrants.bandcamp.com/ Or: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1cXWmfhuDWyfKfsYADk96F If you'd like to get in touch and tell us what you thought of the film and/or the podcast episode, it would be great to hear from you! Here are some ways you can do that: Twitter: @RussophilesU Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/russophilesunite Instagram: www.instagram.com/russophiles_unite/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: https://ko-fi.com/russophilesunite Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

15 Helmi 201841min

As a special Valentine's Day treat, we're watching Andrei Zvyagintsev's latest film, Loveless from 2017. The film stars Maryana Spivak, Aleksey Rozin, and Matvey Novikov. It has been nominated for a Bafta for Best Film Not in the English Language, and the Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film. To discuss the film, Ally is joined by former Moscow resident and self-described emergency back-up guest Carrie Pitts. We've tried to avoid SPOILERS but be aware that they may occur from about 6 minutes in until the end.  If you'd like to get in touch and tell us what you thought of the film and/or the podcast episode, here are some options: Twitter: @RussophilesU Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/russophilesunite/

14 Helmi 201842min

This time around we're watching Stalingrad, from 2013 and directed by Fyodor Bondarchuk. The film stars  Mariya Smolyakina, Yanina Studilina, Pyotr Fyodorov, Thomas Kretschmann, Sergey Bondarchuk, Dmitri Lysenkov, Andrey Smolyakov, Aleksey Barabash, and Oleg Volku. It was Russia's entry for Best Film in the 87th Oscars, but it ultimately wasn't nominated. To discuss the film, Ally is joined by former A-level film studies student and Chuckle Brother Award co-winner (2004) Patrick Say. This episode contains SPOILERS from 20 minutes in until the end.  If you'd like to get in touch and tell us what you thought of the film and/or the podcast episode, here are some options: Twitter: @RussophilesU Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/russophilesunite/

1 Helmi 20181h 4min

Lyn Seren, film enthusiast, cat admirer, and car owner, joins Ally Pitts to discuss British film Lady Macbeth, which features a star-making performance by Florence Pugh. The screenplay is an adaptation of Nikolai Leskov's 19th century novella Lady Macbeth of Mtsensk District by Alice Birch. Expect SIGNIFICANT SPOILERS from 4 minutes in until the end. CONTENT WARNING: If you're planning to watch the film, you should be aware that it contains scenes of domestic violence and sexual assault. As you'll hear in the episode, we recorded this when the film had its initial run in UK cinemas back in 2017, before R. Kelly's sexual abuse against minors was as widely known as it is now.  Our intro music is Cold by Sasha Ilyukevich and the Highly Skilled Migrants. You can find more of their music at: thehighlyskilledmigrants.bandcamp.com/ or: open.spotify.com/artist/1cXWmfhuDWyfKfsYADk96F If you'd like to get in touch and tell us what you thought of the film and/or the podcast episode, it would be great to hear from you! Here are some ways you can do that: Twitter: @RussophilesU Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/groups/russophilesunite Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

18 Tammi 201830min

Happy New Year, druzya! For our first film pick of 2018, we're watching historical drama Tsar from 2009, directed by Pavel Lungin and starring Pyotr Mamonov and Oleg Yankovskiy. To discuss the film, Ally is joined by co-host of High & Low: A Kurosawa Podcast and Russian history super-fan Spencer Seams. This episode contains moderate SPOILERs from 19 minutes in until the end. It also includes (at least) one significant factual error about Russian history by Ally. For. Shame. No actual prizes for spotting it(/them), but kudos if you do. If you'd like to get in touch and tell us what you thought of the film and/or the podcast episode, here are some options: Twitter: @RussophilesU Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Facebook: www.facebook.com/russophilesunite/ Outro music: Grubiy Zakat by Zvuki Mu (fronted by Pyotr Mamonov).

4 Tammi 20181h 6min

The film this time around is perennial Russian festive favourite The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy your Bath! from 1975. It was directed by Eldar Ryazanov and stars Andrey Myagkov, Barbara Brylska, and Yury Yakovlev (NOT Yakolev, like I kept saying on the episode). To discuss the film, Ally is joined by Russian language and literature grad and former Moscow resident Carrie Pitts. This episode is mildly SPOILER-y from 20 minutes in until the end. The show's intro music is Cold by Sasha Ilyukevich and the Highly Skilled Migrants. You can find more of their music at: https://thehighlyskilledmigrants.bandcamp.com/ Or: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1cXWmfhuDWyfKfsYADk96F If you'd like to get in touch and tell us what you thought of the film and/or the podcast episode, it would be great to hear from you! Here are some ways you can do that: Twitter: @RussophilesU Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/russophilesunite Instagram: www.instagram.com/russophiles_unite/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: https://ko-fi.com/russophilesunite Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

21 Joulu 201746min

Jenny Shelton, writer and period drama enthusiast, joins Ally Pitts to review Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Picture winner for 1980 Moscow does not Believe in Tears, directed by Vladimir Menshov. Apparently, Ronald Reagan watched it a whole bunch of times, but please don't hold that against it. Expect SPOILERS from about 13 minutes in until the end. CONTENT WARNING: Please be aware that the film depicts a character being rape (mostly off-screen), and that we discuss this incident during the course of the podcast. Moscow does not Believe in Tears stars Vera Alentova, Irina Muravyova, Raisa Ryazanova, and Aleksei Batalov. If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast Find Jenny on Twitter at: @JennySheltonCam World Film Locations Moscow, edited by Birgit Beumers: www.intellectbooks.com/world-film-locations-moscow World Film Locations series from Intellect Books: https://www.intellectbooks.com/world-film-locations The show's intro music is Cold by Sasha Ilyukevich and the Highly Skilled Migrants. You can find more of their music at: https://thehighlyskilledmigrants.bandcamp.com/ Or: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1cXWmfhuDWyfKfsYADk96F If you'd like to get in touch and tell us what you thought of the film and/or the podcast episode, it would be great to hear from you! Here are some ways you can do that: Twitter: @RussophilesU Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/russophilesunite Instagram: www.instagram.com/russophiles_unite/ Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/ Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: https://ko-fi.com/russophilesunite Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

7 Joulu 20171h 1min

As the title suggests, this is the first one of these. Buy Zona by Geoff Dyer and support the podcast! The first ten minutes or so of the podcast are non-spoilery but from then on EXPECT SPOILERS.   My guest is the most excellent Lyn Setchell. Many thanks to Owen Choules and Chris Mead of Classic Schmassic for their inspiration (and let's face it, essentially their format). If you'd like to get in touch, the Twitter handle is @RussophilesU and for longer messages, please email me at russophilesunite@gmail.com

23 Marras 20171h 1min