Cinephile, history fan, and one-time Muscovite Ally Pitts explores contemporary and Soviet-era Russian language cinema one film at a time! The show combines interviews and movie discussion, and features expert guests including authors, journalists, stand-up comedians, and indie podcasters. From time to time, it also tackles Hollywood’s attempts to bring aspects of Russian culture, literature, and history to the Silver Screen.
Episodes
Jan 4, 2018
Jan 4, 2018
1hr 6 min
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
Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com
Facebook: www.facebook.com/russophilesunite/
Outro music: Grubiy Zakat by Zvuki Mu (fronted by Pyotr Mamonov).
Dec 21, 2017
Dec 21, 2017
46 min
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:
https://thehighlyskilledmigrants.bandcamp.com/
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
Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/russophilesunite
Instagram: www.instagram.com/russophiles_unite/
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/
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
Dec 7, 2017
Dec 7, 2017
1hr 1 min
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:
https://thehighlyskilledmigrants.bandcamp.com/
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
Email: russophilesunite@gmail.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/russophilesunite
Instagram: www.instagram.com/russophiles_unite/
Letterboxd: https://letterboxd.com/Ally_Pitts/
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
Nov 23, 2017
Nov 23, 2017
1hr 1 min
As the title suggests, this is the first one of these.
Buy Zona by Geoff Dyer and support the podcast!
The first ten minutes or so of the podcast are non-spoilery but from then on EXPECT SPOILERS.
My guest is the most excellent Lyn Setchell.
Many thanks to Owen Choules and Chris Mead of Classic Schmassic for their inspiration (and let's face it, essentially their format).
If you'd like to get in touch, the Twitter handle is @RussophilesU and for longer messages, please email me at russophilesunite@gmail.com