A Russian &amp; Soviet Movie Podcast with Ally Pitts

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Jun 06, 2019

Onegin (Martha Fiennes; 1999)

Thursday Jun 06, 2019

Jenny Shelton, writer and period drama drama connoisseur, and Carrie Pitts. Russian language & literature graduate join Ally Pitts to discuss this adaptation of Alexander Pushkin's famous verse novel.

SPOILERS from about 28 minutes onwards.

CONTENT WARNING: the film contains very brief but fairly graphic violence.

Onegin stars Ralph Fiennes, Liv Tyler, Toby Stephens, and Lena Headey.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Apr 18, 2019

Attraction (Fyodor Bondarchuk; 2017)

Thursday Apr 18, 2019

Teegan Johnson, industrial psychology researcher and sci-fi fan, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this alien invasion movie/romance set in contemporary Moscow.

Expect SPOILERS from about 13 minutes in onwards.

CONTENT WARNING: The film depicts misogynistic violence and consent issues.

Attraction stars Irina Starshenbaum, Alexander Petrov, Rinal Mukhametov, Evgeny Mikheev and Oleg Menshikov.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Apr 04, 2019

Letter Never Sent (Mikhail Kalatozov; 1960)

Thursday Apr 04, 2019

Lyn Seren, film fan and R.E.M. appreciator, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this journey into the depths of Siberia.

Expect SPOILERS from about 20 minutes in onwards.

Letter Never Sent stars Tatyana Samoylova, Evgeny Urbansky, Vasily Livanov, and Innokenty Smoktunovsky.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Mar 21, 2019

Welcome, Or No Trespassing (Elem Klimov, 1964)

Thursday Mar 21, 2019

Tanya Lukyanova, TV producer, and stand-up comedian, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this joyous and energetic satire, which was the debut of the director of the notorious war film Come and See.

This episode SPOILERS from about 18 mins in until the end.

Welcome, or No Trespassing stars Viktor Kosykh, Evgeny Evstignyev, Aleksei Smirnov, Lidiya Smirnova, and Arina Aleynikova.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

You can follow Tanya on Instagram: www.instagram.com/tanya_lucky/

And check out her YouTube series Russian Something: www.youtube.com/channel/UCaq-2DyBRU6OM7ot4G6cM0A

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Mar 07, 2019

The Cranes are Flying (Mikhail Kalatozov; 1957)

Thursday Mar 07, 2019

Carrie Pitts, Russian language & literature grad, foodie, and reluctant veteran of the podcast, joins Ally to discuss possibly the most famous Soviet film of the Khrushchev Thaw.

Listeners in the UK can buy The Cranes are Flying by Josephine Woll from Bloomsbury Books, via our uk.bookshop.org affiliate link. 10% of the sale will go towards covering the costs of running the show and you'll also be helping out independent bookshops! Visit our uk.bookshop.org affiliate store here!

SPOILERS from about 18 mins in until the end.

CONTENT WARNING: a rape is strongly implied to have taken place off screen.

The Cranes are Flying stars Tatyana Samoylova, Alexei Batalov, Aleksandr Shvorin, Vasiliy Merkurev, and Svetlana Kharitonova.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Feb 21, 2019

The Diamond Arm (Leonid Gaidai; 1969)

Thursday Feb 21, 2019

Olivia Capozzalo & Smith Freeman, hosts of the She's in Russia podcast, join Ally Pitts to discuss this late 1960s crime caper.

Expect SPOILERS from about 39 minutes in until the end.

The Diamond Arm stars Yuri Nikulin, Andrei Mironov, Nonna Mordyukova, Anatoly Papanov, Nina Grebeshkova, and Svetlana Svetlichnaya.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Feb 07, 2019

War and Peace (King Vidor; 1956)

Thursday Feb 07, 2019

Adam Roche of The Secret History of Hollywood, Attaboy, Clarence!, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this Hollywood adaptation of Leo Tolstoy's epic, which stars Audrey Hepburn.

Expect SPOILERS from about 22 minutes in until the end.

War and Peace also stars Henry Fonda, Mel Ferrer, Vittorio Gassman, Anita Ekberg, Oskar Homolka, Helmut Dantine, and Jeremy Brett.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

Find out more about Adam's podcasts at: www.attaboyclarence.com

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Jan 24, 2019

Prisoner of the Caucasus AKA Kidnapping, Caucasian Style (Leonid Gaidai; 1966)

Thursday Jan 24, 2019

Nadia Bee, writer and filmmaker, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this beloved 1960s Soviet comedy.

Expect SPOILERS from 15 minutes in until the end.

CONTENT WARNING: bride-kidnapping is central to the plot.

Kidnapping, Caucasian Style stars Alexander Demyanenko, Natalya Varley, Vladimir Etush, Frunzik Mkrtchyan, Yuri Nikulin, Yevgeny Morgunov, and Georgy Vitsin.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

You can read reviews and interviews by Nadia at: https://kinefile.com/about/, https://www.scenesjournal.com/interviews/, and https://www.myfilmclub.co.uk/.

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Jan 10, 2019

Ivan’s Childhood (Andrei Tarkovsky; 1962)

Thursday Jan 10, 2019

Spencer Seams, podcaster & writer, joins Ally Pitts to discuss Andrei Tarkovsky's full-length debut.

Expect SPOILERS from about 16 minutes in until the end.

Ivan's Childhood stars Nikolai Burlyayev, Valentin Zubkov, Nikolai Grinko, Yevgeny Zharikov, Irma Rausch, and Valentina Malyavina.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

Spencer and fellow previous guest Joel Torres host We Cut Heads: A Spike Lee Podcast.

Russophiles Unite's 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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Dec 27, 2018

Yolki AKA Six Degrees of Celebration (Timur Bekmambetov et al.; 2010)

Thursday Dec 27, 2018

Carrie Pitts, former Moscow resident, expert heckler, and Georgian food advocate joins Ally to discuss this slice of seasonal schmaltz.

Expect SPOILERS from about 23 minutes in until the end.

Six Degrees of Celebration stars Ivan Urgant, Sergey Svetlakov, Elena Plaksina, Vera Brezhneva, Aleksandr Golovin, Kristina Asmus, Dato Bakhtadze, Sergey Garmash, and Mariya Poroshina.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Dec 13, 2018

Mermaid (Anna Melikyan; 2007)

Thursday Dec 13, 2018

Marilag Angway and Meghan Griffin podcasters and fairy tale super-fans, join Ally Pitts to discuss this loose modern-day adaptation of Hans Christian Andersen's The Little Mermaid.

Expect SPOILERS from about 19 minutes in until the end.

CONTENT WARNING: suicide is a recurring theme of the film and there's also some nudity.

Mermaid stars Mariya Shalayeva, Evgeniy Tsyganov, Mariya Sokova, Irina Skrinichenko, Albina Evtushevskaya, and Veronika Skugina.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

Check out Marilag and Meghan's podcast Fableulous Retellings at https://fableulousretellingspodcast.wordpress.com!

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Oct 25, 2018

Ivan the Terrible: Part I (Sergei Eisenstein; 1944)

Thursday Oct 25, 2018

Esther Jolliffe, film Studies masters graduate, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this biopic of the first tsar of Muscovy, which was voted 102nd greatest film of all time in the 2012 Sight and Sound Critics' Poll.

Listeners in the UK can buy This Thing of Darkness: Eisenstein's Ivan the Terrible in Stalin's Russia by Dr Joan Neuberger from Cornell University Press, via our uk.bookshop.org affiliate link. 10% of the sale will go towards covering the costs of running the show and you'll also be helping out independent bookshops! Visit our uk.bookshop.org affiliate store here!

Expect SPOILERS from about 13 minutes in until the end. Ivan the Terrible: part I stars Nikolai Cherkasov, Lyudmila Tselikovskaya, Serafima Birman, and Mikhail Nazvanov.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

A list of podcast episodes in which Dr Joan Neuberger discusses This Thing of Darkness can be found here.

Find out more about #PodRevDay, a way to support your favourite podcasts: www.stephfuccio.com/podrevday

The show's 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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Oct 11, 2018

Fiddler on the Roof (Norman Jewison; 1971)

Thursday Oct 11, 2018

Alex Taylor, writer and performer, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this big screen version of the beloved stage musical, itself an adaptation of a story by Russian-Jewish writer Sholem Aleichem.

Expect SPOILERS from about 15 minutes in until the end.

CONTENT WARNING: the movie depicts anti-Semitic attacks and persecution.

Fiddler on the Roof stars Topol, Norma Crane, Leonard Frey, Molly Picon, Paul Mann, Rosalind Harris, Michele Marsh, Neva Small, Paul Michael Glaser, and Raymond Lovelock.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Sep 27, 2018

The White Sun of the Desert (Vladimir Motyl; 1970)

Thursday Sep 27, 2018

Edward Evans, English language teacher, lapsed chemist, occasional YouTuber and long-time Moscow resident, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this 'Red Western'/'Eastern'.

SPOILERS from about 19 minutes in until the end.

The White Sun of the Desert stars Anatoly Kuznetsov, Spartak Mishulin, Pavel Luspekayev, Kakhi Kavsadze, and Lidiya Smirnova.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Sep 13, 2018

Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession (Leonid Gaidai; 1973)

Thursday Sep 13, 2018

Lyn Seren, Russophiles Unite regular and Bill & Ted enthusiast, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this knockabout time-travel comedy caper.

Expect SPOILERS from about 7 minutes in until the end.

Ivan Vasilyevich Changes Profession stars Yuri Yakovlev, Alexandr Demyanenko, Leonid Kuravlyov, and Natalya Seleznyova.

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

The show's 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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Aug 30, 2018

Assa (Sergei Solovyov; 1987)

Thursday Aug 30, 2018

Carrie Pitts, former Moscow resident and self-described 'emergency back-up guest', joins Ally to discuss this late '80s Russian cult favourite.

We were fortunate enough to see it on the big screen as Kino Klassika put it on as part of their #YouthOnTheMarch season of Soviet New Wave films.

Expect SPOILERS from about 9 minutes in until the end.

CONTENT WARNING: the movie features scenes domestic violence, and, as we discuss during this episode, an extremely insensitive casting decision.

Assa stars Tatyana Drubich, Stanislav Govorukhin, and Sergei 'Afrika' Bugaev. It also features a memorable cameo by Kino frontman Viktor Tsoi. Much of the soundtrack was written by another Russian rock star, Boris Grebenshchikov.

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Aug 16, 2018

Brother (Alexei Balabanov; 1997)

Thursday Aug 16, 2018

Mark Bullen, author, former police officer, and expert on Russian organised crime joins Ally Pitts to discuss iconic '90s neo-noir crime drama Brother.

It stars Sergei Bodrov Jr, Viktor Sukhorukov, Svetlana Pismichenko, Yury Kuznetsov, and Sergei Murzin.

CONTENT WARNING: In the film, it is implied that a male character rapes a female character off-screen.

SPOILERS from about 32 minutes in until the end.

Mark's book Thief in Law, which is a guide to the tattoos and culture of Russian-speaking organised criminal gangs is available from Schiffer Books in the United States: www.schifferbooks.com/thief-in-law-a-guide-to-russian-prison-tattoos-and-russian-speaking-organized-crime-6499.html

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Aug 02, 2018

Aelita, Queen of Mars (Yakov Protazanov; 1924)

Thursday Aug 02, 2018

Sarah Roberts, artist and podcaster,, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this early Soviet silent sci-fi adventure.

SPOILERS from about 11 minutes in until the end.

Aelita stars Nikolai Tsereteli, Valentina Kuindzhi, Yuliya Solntseva, Nikolai Batalov, and Pavel Pol.

Check out Sarah's artwork here: http://sarahkathleenroberts.com/

The outro music is by Gamers in Exile, from their alternative soundtrack to the film and is used with their kind permission. The full version can be found here: https://youtu.be/CBnlTge6S4o

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: https://ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

The show's intro music is Cold by Sasha Ilyukevich and the Highly Skilled Migrants.

You can find more of their music at:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/russophilesunite

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Tuesday Jul 17, 2018

Nicholas & Alexandra (Franklin J. Schaffner; 1971)

Tuesday Jul 17, 2018

Ayna Niyazova, artist and illustrator, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this Oscar-winning epic period drama that depicts the series of calamities that led to the downfall of the Romanov dynasty.

SPOILERS from about 25 minutes in until the end.

Nicholas & Alexandra stars Michael Jayston, Janet Suzman, Laurence Olivier, John McEnery, Michael Bryant, and Tom Baker.

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: https://ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

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/1cXWmfhuDWyfKfsYAD…

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/

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-…

Thursday Jul 05, 2018

My Friend Ivan Lapshin (Aleksei German Sr; 1985)

Thursday Jul 05, 2018

Martin Kessler, filmmaker and host of Flixwise: Canada joins Ally Pitts to discuss this 1930s-set film that is part memoir, part crime drama.

CONTENT WARNING: the film depicts a suicide attempt.

SPOILERS from about 23 minutes in until the end.

Martin has also written a series of in-depth essays on Aleksei German Sr. and his films published by film site The Pink Smoke.

My Friend Ivan Lapshin stars Andrei Boltnev, Nina Ruslanova, and Andrey Mironov.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: https://ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Jun 21, 2018

The Sun (Alexander Sokurov; 2005)

Thursday Jun 21, 2018

Joel Torres, podcaster and film fan, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this unconventional biopic that focuses on Emperor Hirohito's response to Japan's defeat in World War II.

SPOILERS from about 23 minutes in until the end.

The Sun stars Issei Ogata and Robert Dawson.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Jun 07, 2018

The Barber of Siberia (Nikita Mikhalkov; 1998)

Thursday Jun 07, 2018

Tracy Tanoff, podcaster, literature fan, and period drama connoisseur, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this sprawling late 1990s epic from the director of the 1994 Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film winner Burnt by the Sun.

The Barber of Siberia stars Julia Ormond, Oleg Menshikov, Alexei Petrenko, and Richard Harris.

SPOILERS from about 12 minutes in until the end.

CONTENT WARNING: a rape, while not depicted on screen, is a plot element.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

Please check out Tracy's blog here: http://pleasureinagoodnovel.blogspot.co.uk/

Russophiles Unite's 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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday May 24, 2018

Andrei Rublev (Andrei Tarkovsky; 1966)

Thursday May 24, 2018

Lyn Seren, man who likes interesting films and appreciator of dogs, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this historical epic/unconventional biopic of the famous Russian icon painter.

Expect SPOILERS from about 7 minutes in until the end.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

Find out more about #PodRevDay, a way to support your favourite podcasts: www.stephfuccio.com/podrevday

The show's 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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Apr 12, 2018

Window to Paris (Yuri Mamin; 1993)

Thursday Apr 12, 2018

For the last episode of this batch, it's Window to Paris from 1993.

It stars Sergey Dreyden, Agnes Soral, and Viktor Mikhaylov, and was directed by Yuri Mamin.

Joining Ally to discuss the film are Carrie, & Lyn, who you may remember from such episodes as Irony of Fate, Loveless, Stalker, and Lady Macbeth.

SPOILERS 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 ways you can do that:

Twitter: @RussophilesU

Thursday Mar 29, 2018

The Hound of the Baskervilles (Igor Maslennikov; 1981)

Thursday Mar 29, 2018

Malcolm Nygard, writer and podcaster, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this Soviet take on one of the most famous Sherlock Holmes stories.

SPOILERS from about 34 minutes in until the end.

The Hound of the Baskervilles stars Vasily Livanov, Viktor Solomin and Nikita Mikhalkov, and was directed by Igor Maslennikov.

SIGNIFICANT SPOILERS from about 34 minutes in until the end.

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

Check out Malcolm's film reviews over on Letterboxd.

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Mar 15, 2018

Eastern Promises (David Cronenberg; 2007)

Thursday Mar 15, 2018

Lydia Kapp, writer, actor, and artist, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this dark, violent London-set crime drama.

CONTENT WARNING: the movie discussed on this episode contains depictions of sexual violence; human trafficking, and graphic violence. For more information, please visit: https://www.bbfc.co.uk/releases/eastern-promises-2007

SPOILERS from about 24 minutes in until the end.

Eastern Promises stars Naomi Watts, Viggo Mortensen, Vincent Cassell, and Armin Mueller-Stahl.

Lydia wrote and starred in the short film Clarence, directed by Rob Thomson, which can be viewed here.

Find Lydia on Twitter: https://twitter.com/TallKapp

Or on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tallkapp/?hl=en

The show's intro music is Cold by Sasha Ilyukevich and the Highly Skilled Migrants.

You can find more of their music at:

Or: Spotify.

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/russophilesunite

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

Thursday Mar 01, 2018

Through the Thorns to the Stars AKA To the Stars by Hard Ways (Richard Viktorov; 1980)

Thursday Mar 01, 2018

Teegan Johnson, industrial psychologist and sci-fi fan, joins Ally Pitts to discuss this early 1980s curiosity.

Listeners in the UK can support the show by picking up a book via our online affiliate bookshop. 10% of the sale will go towards covering the costs of running the show and you'll also be helping out independent bookshops! Visit our uk.bookshop.org affiliate store here!

If you enjoyed this episode, please follow and rate us on Podchaser: www.podchaser.com/russophilesunitemoviepodcast

Support the show/fund Ally's caffeine habit at: ko-fi.com/russophilesunite

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 on Spotify.

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: https://www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Feb 15, 2018

The Death of Stalin (Armando Iannucci; 2017)

Thursday Feb 15, 2018

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:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/russophilesunite

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

Wednesday Feb 14, 2018

Loveless (Andrei Zvyagintsev; 2017)

Wednesday Feb 14, 2018

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

Thursday Feb 01, 2018

Stalingrad (Fyodor Bondarchuk; 2013)

Thursday Feb 01, 2018

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

Thursday Jan 18, 2018

Lady Macbeth (William Oldroyd; 2016)

Thursday Jan 18, 2018

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

Find Ally's other podcast appearances at: www.podchaser.com/creators/alistair-pitts-107ZzmUqmI

Thursday Jan 04, 2018

Tsar (Pavel Lungin; 2009)

Thursday Jan 04, 2018

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

Outro music: Grubiy Zakat by Zvuki Mu (fronted by Pyotr Mamonov).

Thursday Dec 21, 2017

The Irony of Fate (Eldar Ryazanov; 1975) Special Festive Episode!!!

Thursday Dec 21, 2017

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:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/russophilesunite

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

Thursday Dec 07, 2017

Moscow does not Believe in Tears (Vladimir Menshov; 1980)

Thursday Dec 07, 2017

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:

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/russophilesunite