Sny (1993)

Sny: Directed by Aleksandr Borodyanskiy, Karen Shakhnazarov. With Oleg Basilashvili, Amaliya Mordvinova, Armen Dzhigarkhanyan, Arnold Ides. Russian countess in 1893 has strange dreams about herself living a life as a dishwasher in 1993′ Moscow after dissolution of the USSR.

“Time travel is often amusing and is at the core of Russiau0026#39;s most popular comedy u0026quot;Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Professionu0026quot;(1973). u0026quot;Snyu0026quot; or u0026quot;Dreamsu0026quot; is masterful comedy director Karen Shakhnazarovu0026#39;s riff on the same theme. In u0026quot;Snyu0026quot;, a beautiful countess finds herself in present day Moscow, which continually horrifies and astonishes her.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAmalia Mordvinova is gorgeous in the lead role.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAs ever Shakhnazarovu0026#39;s adroit sense of the absurd delights. Unfortunately, some of the humour demands an understanding of the cultural context of modern and Soviet Russia — but many American comedies are equally self-referential.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eAnd frankly, Russian absurdity is a lot funnier than anything that Tarantino or his boorish friends and loutish imitators could ever dream up.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eOccasionally production values disappoint — signs of the times, 1993 wasnu0026#39;t a good year in Russia. Shakhnazarovu0026#39;s u0026quot;Kurieru0026quot; is perhaps a more accessible, more evenly brilliant film.”