Rating: 
Summary: Very different film.
Review: Very different film. The story of the after Civil War USSR during Stalin regime. A former Russian "war hero" on his "dacha" (country house) with his family and friends. Another friend shows up... to arrest him as the "enemy of the Russian people" (Vrag Naroda). In one hand this film will show the brutality and crazyness of this time in USSR history. In another hand? Very good actors with a VERY bad and fake acting. Grotesque is way OVER done, what made this film looks like a mediocre student movie.
This film was made at the time when movie studios in Russia had to produce money making films. This period in Russian cinema history should be called as "The Russian Cinema Big Depression". And this film came as best example of it. It did win few awards and made good money, but Nikita Michalkov should be ashamed for making this one. I gave it 3 stars only as my respect to the director who made such excellent films as: "Siberiade" '79, "Oblomov" '80 and "An Unfinished Piece for Player Piano" '77.
Reviewed by "www.russianwriter.net"
Rating:
Summary: I succumbed to the hoopla
Review: I had read so many wonderful things about this film, so I ordered it and waited with breathless anticipation...only to find that 20 minutes in I had to consciously restrain from hitting the 'fast forward' button.Mikhalkov's slow panoramic lead-ins are nice for the viewer who has never seen a Russian wheat field, but the entire plot of the movie could have comfortably fit into a 1.75 hour film instead of the 2.5 hour extravaganza it is. The majority of scenes featuring the director/actor come across as the indulgences of a megalomaniac. Mikhalkov's star turn as the reformed Soviet recruiter beloved by all who know him requires infinite patience at times, since those scenes go on forever. The only strikingly real part of his performance was the adoration between father and daughter Nadya. Nadya Mikhalkova was a true delight to watch as the precocious daughter of Kotov, though at times her unconditional love of Papa seemed to be coaxed.
Even Mitya, the musician turned government agent in exile, appeared flat in some instances, as if actor Oleg Menshikov was instructed by the director not to outshine him.
Throughout the entire film, Kotov's wife Marussya was in serious need of anxiety medication. Her nervousness was understandable though; she was caught between the magnetism of Menshikov's Mitya and the ego of Mikhalkov's Kotov. I could imagine that was not a fun place to be. Warning to viewers: scenes between the two men may cause testosterone poisoning. Kotov always comes across as trying to one-up a younger and much more talented man, but in one particular scene it's painfully blatant. Menshikov is a brilliant actor; he could have very easily carried the film had he been featured more prominently. The look of pure evil that crosses Mitya's face near the end of the movie is spine-chilling, and well worth the long long wait to see.
Overall, Burnt by the Sun isn't a terrible movie, it reminded me of Tolstoy - tedious, but thought-provoking. I felt it was a remarkable attempt to deal with Stalinism, and to show the conflicts between love of country and family.
Rating: 
Summary: I loved this film -- it's in my personal Top Ten Favorites!
Review: Oh my, I am so shocked that someone said the acting in this film was bad. I absolutely loved it. Being a film actor myself, I do get very annoyed with poor acting, but that didn't happen for me in this film. The little girl in the film was also one of the most adorable children I have ever enjoyed, the story was fascinating, loved the cinematography and the peep into another world. I have watched this movie about 5 times already, and I have to really like a movie a LOT to watch it more than once. And I will watch it again. The director, who also played the Bolshevik hero, was just fantastic, as was the woman that played his wife. I thought the casting all around was just wonderful, as were the settings and whimsical moments. It is for me a deeply touching film -- just the way I want films to touch me. All that said, my best friend is a film fan and is much less picky about her movies than I. That is to say she likes 10 times more titles than I do -- and yet she was underwhelmed by this film. Go figure. I'm the big fan, so that is something I cannot explain! To give you an idea of the kinds of movies I like: Pulp Fiction, True Romance and Light Sleeper are among my favorites. Hope that helps!
Rating:
Summary: WHAT "THE PIANIST" WAS TO POLAND, THIS IS TO RUSSIA.
Review: This absolute poetry on camera, which bagged the 1995 best international film award, is a masterpiece I highly recommend you to watch. Russians (or other followers of Stalin's times) may be a bit jaded by the theme of 30's USSR suffering. But for the rest of us, "Burnt by the Sun" glides effortlessly, seamlessly though the genres as it tells of a handful of Russian characters who collectively constitute a family of sorts with great humor and drama, poignant and sweetly sentimental moments, and excellence both technically and artistically. What is more, the film's story is interesting, unpredictable, and well told with depth and neatly developed characters. The reviewers who have lamented about the politics of the our time, the academy award and the bravura with which it was accepted etc. are making weirdly baseless comments. If you enjoyed Polanski's opus "Pianist", I guarantee you're in for a visual and sentimental treat with this one as well!
Rating:
Summary: Very different film.
Review: Very different film. The story of the after Civil War USSR during Stalin regime. A former Russian "war hero" on his "dacha" (country house) with his family and friends. Another friend shows up... to arrest him as the "enemy of the Russian people" (Vrag Naroda). In one hand this film will show the brutality and crazyness of this time in USSR history. In another hand? Very good actors with a VERY bad and fake acting. Grotesque is way OVER done, what made this film looks like a mediocre student movie.
This film was made at the time when movie studios in Russia had to produce money making films. This period in Russian cinema history should be called as "The Russian Cinema Big Depression". And this film came as best example of it. It did win few awards and made good money, but Nikita Michalkov should be ashamed for making this one. I gave it 3 stars only as my respect to the director who made such excellent films as: "Siberiade" '79, "Oblomov" '80 and "An Unfinished Piece for Player Piano" '77.
Reviewed by "www.russianwriter.net"
Rating:
Summary: Uh... I thought this was the band, burnt by the sun!
Review: Okay, i bought this thinking it was about burnt by the sun the grind/metal band...Well, i was wrong ! Anyways, i got a change to actullie read the book & i was quite impress better then any other book i've read before. Interesting plot and it has the best ending! Buy it now !
Rating:
Summary: amazing peice of russian film
Review: anyone who says this film is mediocre or bad just doesn't "get it". the russians have a higher standard for film than americans do, and do not mind length and "slow pace". but this film is *anything* but boring. a true story of a highly decorated soviet officer who finds himself subjected to stalin's purges. mikhalov won best international film @ cannes the year it came out. phenominal. touching. artistic at points. moving. a MUST see for any russian film lover! or anyone wanting to learn more about soviet russia.
Rating:
Summary: Burnt By The Sun
Review: In another review of this film, the viewer said they didn't understand why the visual references to Stalin. This movie is about Stalinism and it's story is just one of millions that occured during his reign. Read Nikita Kruschev's memoirs and you will understand.
Rating:
Summary: Emotional Shock
Review: I find a lot of reviews presented in this forum unsatisfactory. They either debate whether or not "Burnt by the Sun" deserved an Oscar or criticize the controversial figure of the film's director, Mikhalkov, his political stances, deficiencies, faults, etc. A few if any reviews talk about the emotional power of this picture, which affected me tremendously. "Burnt by the Sun", or "Drained by the Sun" (a more accurate translation from Russian) has impressed me with its depth and subtle nuances in portraying people's inner psyche, their desires, fears, hopes and illusions. It is a very humane and cruel movie at the same time. It's hard if not impossible to choose sides, e.g. in the beginning I found myself sympathizing with Mitya, the antagonist, who was forced to leave his home, who lost the love of his life to Kotov but survived the horrors of wars, only to find out later for me that he is in fact just a merciless murderer and betrayer, burned out and empty as a carcass of the corpse, cynical enough to befriend and play with a six-year old daughter of his victim. Starting with the opening scene, the movie grabbed my attention and never let go. A young, handsome man returns home to his apartment close to the heart of Soviet Russia - the Kremlin, exhausted, apathetic, and drained emotionally and physically. We presume that he is a big shot in a new Soviet government, for he has a big place all to himself and his French servant. He turns on the radio, doesn't answer the phone calls, pulls out his gun, and takes out all but one bullet. Classical Russian roulette. What is it that makes a man cross that line? Is it fear? Is it necessity? Is it the last escape before the path from which you cannot steer? Is it the last noble thing that you can do?.... <ok, I'm giving out too much here already..> The movie is "heavy" for an average viewer, and, yes, it is somewhat hard to keep track of all characters and developments in the beginning. You'll have to go trough lots of innuendos, hints, and subtlety. But the ultimate shock in the end is worth the wait. It will leave you thinking about what is good and bad and about the entire spectrum of morality in between. It will teach you what a human tragedy really is. And, hopefully, it will leave you some room for hope. Which is what every great movie should do, anyway.
Rating:
Summary: Touching film
Review: I see that one Stalin revisionist living happily in the west has surfaced to pick apart the veracity of this film, but even he ended up liking it for the most part. This film vividly describes the reality (uncertainty?) of life under Stalin, and not from a western perspective, but from the unfortunate perspective of those who came up with the short end of the grand Soviet stick. It also deals with the tragedy of blind patriotism, and the "what goes around, comes around" result of personal abuse of power in life. Then again, maybe they are both rooted in the same human swamp. This is a well made production. I both enjoyed it and hated it. It describes humanity at it's very best, and it's very worst. It provides clear insight as to the base virtues(?) that men like Stalin used to consolodate their power. Everyone should have this film in their collection. It makes a very powerful statement.
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