"No longer seems so avant -garde"

The world premiere of the last film by Alexei German-st. It took place a week ago - at the Roman Film Festival. About why the film was shown there, and not, say, in Cannes, you can read in an interview with German-Ml. The result of this decision is already visible now - only one disappointed English -language review, but a bunch of enthusiasm in the regional Italian press.

Deborah Young, The Hollywood Reporter

The legendary film, work on which began many years ago (he managed to become a real Sinefilian myth), finally presented to the public. Well, “it’s hard to be a god” would make a revolution, he would go out in the eighties, but now it no longer seems so avant -garde - rather monstrously incomprehensible. A thoroughly recreated alternative reality is a common place in a modern CGI mainstream, but here we are not talking about entertein, the bombardment of non-stop is increasingly repulsive images to avert any viewer with at least a slightly weak stomach. In any case, the primary source to know-the cult novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky-is simply necessary, otherwise the three-hour black and white creation of Alexei German is even less permeable than his previous film “Khrustalev, car!”, If this is generally possible. This film can be an event only as a premiere at festivals like Roman, where Herman was posthumously honored for contribution to cinema.

Serena Conkato, CineFilos.it

Alexei German in “It is difficult to be a god” creates an extremely convincing picture of the world missed through a meat grinder-and the ultra-shaped black and white image significantly adds something new to the language of cinema. This is a difficult and demanding movie to the viewer - one three -hour timing is worth it - but in its depths there is a statement that will remain relevant and interesting much longer than those 14 years that has taken work on the film. Civilization cannot be changed, violence is in the nature of man, the power of the strong over the weak is eternal. The only thing is better to read the synopsis before showing, otherwise you risk getting lost in the plot.

Francesco Siciliano, Linkinmovies.it

Arcanar - Living Hell, populated by characters, more disgusting than the actions of which only the environment: pulsating dirt, shit, stink. If the Strugatsky’s novel served as an allegory of the totalitarian regime, then Herman sets himself the task of even more ambitious - he removes the timeless fable about the mechanics of power, the main character of which is doomed to look for the answer to the question: “What would you do if you were God?” Don Rumata, and with him, Herman is inclined to the fact that the decision is only one - the death of mankind. Yes, the viewer will have to be patient, but he will not be rewarded with a film, but you will never forget a dream, seeing that once.

Gabriela Niola, Badtaste.it

If the “check on the roads” seemed to be a film shot through a layer of snow, then “it is difficult to be a god” was shot as if through a layer of dirt: it seems that people are less interesting than the excrement of animals. This world is so rich, excessive, monstrous, cruel and disgusting that a feeling of a separate universe is created, which German explores with the fervor of a traveler who forgot that he himself created this world.

Valerio Sammarko, Cinematografo.it, MTV.it

The most naturalistic SCI-Fi in my memory, “it is difficult to be a god” in fact turns out to be a sensational, timeless fresco, reminding us all about who we were, who we became and what risk to turn into. Like Faust Sokurov, this is a new chapter in the history of cinema, a genuine masterpiece.

Marco Justy Dagospia, Dagospia.com

Speak, the "game of thrones" extends the framework of fantasy? You just have not yet seen "it's hard to be a god." A great, impossible film.

Prepared by Denis Ruzaev