Rating: 
Summary: Russian intelligentsia as it is.
Review: As the other Russian reviewers, I am well aware of the director's dishonest political stance, and it does bother me. The historical relevance of the film is questionable, moreover, it quite obviously caters to the West, with all the West's sensibilities--a huge flag with Stalin's face, for example, that's very hollywood. For these reasons, I was reluctant to see this movie for a very long time, until a trusted friend of mine convinced me that it was worth it.I must say, all my misgivings about the film came true. However, there was something more that actually compelled me to write this review. Mikhalkov has at least one undeniable talent: he knows the life of Russian (Muscovite, rather) intelligentsia and is unsurpassed in depicting it, with all its perpetual nostalgia, and bickering, and weakness, and warmth, and coldness. In "Burnt by the Sun", it is the "dacha"--a summer country house--where most of the action takes place, and not the historically inaccurate depiction of Stalinist politics, that should attract the attention of a careful student of Russian culture. Note these airs of leisure-class and certain decadence that the family of Kotov's wife are trying to retain, but with a twinge fear and nervousness now and then. They are probably members of small nobility who managed to survive the revolution. Kotov is of humble origins and is an outcast in his wife's family who at the same time despises him for his background and fears him for his stature. These are obvious things, but what makes Mikhalkov's picture special is the balance of emotions that he got just right. And of course the meals, the tea, the piano, the convesations--it's all so familiar it hurts. As to the other aspects of the film, in answer to some Russian reviewers, I must say that I actually liked the ambiguity of the characters. The good are not so good after all, and the bad are not so bad. That is how it is in life, isn't it ? PS "The Unfinished Piece for Player Piano" is Mikhalkov's another masterful depiction of Russian intelligentsia.
Rating: 
Summary: Great Movie
Review: This is a great movie to watch: deep, dark, passionate, and suspenseful. Because of its depth, it may take a few viewings to appreciate the more subtle points. Knowledge of Russian culture and history help, but this movie can be appreciated outside of the bounds of its historical and cultural perspective. The impact of this movie is greater if you figure out the story as the movie progresses. If you've read the synopsis already, then part of the suspense will be lost - but even so, you should still check it out.
Rating:
Summary: Review of Burnt By The Sun
Review: Burnt By The Sun is an emotions-captivating video, effectively pulling together events and sequences. It does move along rapidly, and I required several viewings before the intended meanings of certain scenes were clear to me. Having a knowledge of Russian culture was helpful; I found myself explaining, to other viewers, about some of the behaviors and even some of the props used in different scenes. I have been told that the video's theme is very sad, and that is true: if you consider what Russians have lived through (very nearly every generation has had some sort of purge or revolution) you can appreciate the strong emotional content and nature of the film; this is how life is for them. Yet it is not lacking in humor, as well; they have learned to have happiness and appreciate life amidst the turbulent times. This video portrays very accurately the times and people.
Rating:
Summary: beautiful and moving
Review: Wrenchingly emotional, this is one day in the life of a family that is on the surface idyllic...so full of life and love...and is actually a nightmare when the political reality of Stalin's rule intrudes into their world. The entire cast is brilliant with Nikita Mikhalkov ( who also wrote and directed ) as the war hero and patriarch, and Oleg Menshikov as the man who sells his soul for survival standouts. Like the fireballs that waft through rooms and over landscapes in this film, there is something magical about it that becomes more evident with each viewing. The winner of many awards, ( including an Oscar for Best Foreign Film ) it shouldn't be missed, you'll see they were well deserved.
Rating: 
Summary: mediocre
Review: The fild does not reflect history in all its dimensions. I would even say it distorts the truth by presenting a very single-sided point of view. It is definitly popular abroad, as people in the West tend not to know much about Russia and the former Soviet Union. In Russia, however, very few find the director historically honest. The West is also very often scared by the Russian mafia. Perhaps, it would be interesting for many to know that the film's director is one of the Oligarchs' men, a servant of robber barons, who pay him for service with money they steal from the people.
Rating:
Summary: An excellent , emotional tragedy of Communist Russia
Review: This film breaches the boundaries of nationality, language, and history in order to display the spirit of the Russian people and the horrible times this people has been through. The plot is a beatiful tragedy. Alexei Kotov, a hero of the Russian Revolution, is living out his last day with his family, to be taken away and executed by Stalin's secret police at the end. A truly devastating film, perfectly accurate historically, sophisticated and well-wrought. There is no happy ending.
Rating:
Summary: Confusion on the Political Issues
Review: I loved this movie, but I think there has been some confusion on its political contexts. It seems to me that the point of this film has not been to indict the communitarian practices of communism, nor does it seem to condemn the values of equality and proletariat populism promised by the Lenninist revolutionaries. Instead it riles against the Naziesque autocratic regime of Stalin. Only the least educated of people could think that this was a film that, in the spirit of Joseph McCarthy and many elected officials of the city of Miami, highlights the evils of communist ideology. Instead it is a film that warns against the damage that can be done by people who persue personal success and power above all else, even at the expense of those they love the best. We all know these kinds of people, that is what makes this film so great.
Rating:
Summary: Gorgeous but harrowing
Review: The scene starts on a gorgeous summer's day in Russia, not too far outside Moscow. Idyllic, but at what price comes Stalin's 'utopia'? This movie demonstrates a case of this seeming utopia crashing down for one family. Stalin's victims included everybody, the young, the old, those opposed to Stalin, and those who truly believed in the Soviet dream. The performances given by the actors in this movie are extraordinary, and the depth portrayed by their characters is amazing. The tragedy is one that was repeated over and over through Stalin's and Soviet rule, and this movie stands as a memorial for us to remember that.
Rating:
Summary: They'we chosen the worst movie to give it an Oscar
Review: Imagine yourself the following plot for the movie: to the house of a high-rank SS/Nazi officer comes a jew. Long time ago he was a first love of the Nazi's wife, and still loves her. And was somewhere abroad, running away in 1933. And meanwhile the Big Nazi was building a bright future for all German people, the jew became the agent of Gestapo, and a right hand of Himmler. And actually has come to arrest the true national-socialist. Does this sound to you believable, or is it totally disgusting? This is about how the story told in Michalkov's movie is related to the true history of Russia in 1930s. Not only the plot is highly unrealistic, the good and bad are really turned upside down. It's a pity, actually, since practically any other movie of Michalkov is quite good. This one is even directed poorly.
Rating:
Summary: A feint then a right cross
Review: BURNT BY THE SUN is a deceptive film. It starts off and maintains the facade of being some light russian comedy that just happens to take place during the late thirties Communist mass murders and show trials when the Party decided to destroy the Red Army and thus leave Russia helpless before Hitler. One thinks that-oh no another film that portrays life in a Communist country as being just one great lark with the only dark spot being the odd communist with no sense of humor. That is not the case. Mikhalkov is showing the wonderful life and people of precommunist Russia-the eccentrics, the artists, the close family bonds, the common people-in short, the ones that Communism was supposed to "liberate". And after introducing the viewer to these people, letting us get to know them in wonderfully acted vignettes, the Communists come and we are forced to see it all destroyed. The shift is slowly built up to but is, none the less, intensley harrowing and ghastly when it finally comes. To the American viewer, it is analogus to suddenly seeing the Brady Bunch brutally murdered. Mikhalkov incisivley demonstrates, not only the physical savagery of Marxism which was considerable, but he also explores, it's intensivley antihuman methods that aimed not only to destroy the mind but the soul as well. The film is long. The film is subtle. The film can try the patience with its disorienting pace. It helps greatly to know some Russian history. The script could have explained more. But, ultimately, during the last half hour, the film is wrenching. How could anyone support an idealogy that would casually ruin and corrupt people such as these? Murder, torture, suicide; the Marxist utopia. Why is it necessary for the Russians themselves to make films exposing the Communist horror? Why cannot Hollywood? What is the flaw that allows American film to excuse genocide? Burnt By The Sun. Powerful. Disturbing. And depressing. It is an accusation. It should be seen. The viewer might also wish to try another harrowing film about Communist Russia called THE CHEKIST. If anything, it is even more powerful than BURNT and that is saying something.
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