Burnt by the Sun (Utomlyonnye Solntsem) poster & wallpaper
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Nikita Mikhalkov, Oleg Menshikov, Ingeborga Dapkunaite, Vladimir Ilyin, Vyacheslav Tikhonov ... see more see more... , Svetlana Kryuchkova , Avangard Leontyev , Nadia Mikhalkov , Yevgeny Mironov , André Oumansky , Lyubov Rudneva , Alla A. Kazanskaya , Nina Arkhipova , Inna Ulyanova

Stalinist Russia, circa 1930, is recreated in this Russian-French film that focuses on a small, elite gathering of family and friends who appreciate the idealism of Stalin's visions because they do no... read more read more...t have to experience its darker side of gulags and purges. The story focuses upon a single day in Soviet revolutionary hero Serguei Kotov's life. Kotov lives an idyllic country life with his lovely wife Maroussia, and their feisty daughter Nadia. He is highly respected by the locals. On this day, the Kotovs are visited by the roguishly handsome Dimitri, who was a former lover of Maroussia. Dimitri is on a dark mission that may have profound effects on Kotov's peaceful, happy, and idealistic existence. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

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92% liked it

5,381 ratings

Critics

79% liked it

14 critics

R, 2 hr. 14 min.

Directed by: Nikita Mikhalkov

Release Date: May 21, 1994

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DVD Release Date: July 15, 2003

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Stats: 327 reviews

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Flixster Reviews (327)

  • bookmunki
    October 25, 2009
    bookmunki
    charming and horrifying
  • fb1144932598
    August 13, 2010
    fb1144932598
    A real mixed bag, this film reveals the capricious nature of the Stalin era in the Soviet Union without romanticizing it, but is, like many Russian novels, terribly over-populated. The first half hour to forty-five minutes, we are introduced to the large clan that lives in the da... read morecha of retired hero of the revolution, Col. Kotov (Nikita Mikhalkov, who also directed) and some few guests. Some of the characters serve important roles later on in the film, but most serve as background to the main story. Initially, this viewer was quite confused trying to figure out who all these people were and how they were related. However, the rest of the film quite clearly set us up for the chilling, violent conclusion. The scenery was bucolic, and there was a liberal dose of humor to go with the inevitable tragedy. If one can make it through the whirlwind of character introductions, there is a reward for patience.
  • mvieaddict
    November 5, 2009
    mvieaddict
    Burnt by Sun was a movie that left me wondering why it was honored the Academy Award winner for best foreign film in that year. Maybe It was worthy for the cinematography but the story itself was so boring that I found it nearly impossible to finish watching. It was more 2 hours... read more long and almost nothing happened and the characters were so stupid to me. It was a story about the life a man under the regime of Stalin. Even describing it was boring!
  • matricialynnicus
    June 29, 2010
    matricialynnicus
    Good acting, but not an entirely believable story line. The character's behavior did not always fit the context they were in.
  • placeinthesun455
    March 22, 2009
    placeinthesun455
    I really started to get engaged in the final 20 minutes. the rest of the movie struck me as an intensely subtle and off-beat "drama-comedic family" movie. the acting was very good, especially the little girl--the father/daughter Mikhalovs and Kotovs had a tremendously touching ... read morerelationship. overall a slower-paced film with sprinkled hints of quaint charm, but I didn't really think the story was meaty enough--still good though.
  • twzinn
    December 14, 2006
    twzinn
    Yes, yes, I know, I know (that for the Russians reading); however, it must be said that this is a beautiful cinematic rendering of a father-daughter relationship. This much must have been real after all, no? I loved this film.
  • jedi787plus
    May 21, 2006
    jedi787plus
    Didn't like its ending. Heard there's a sequel in the works; hope such sequel's better than this semi-crappy one...

View All Burnt by the Sun (Utomlyonnye Solntsem) Reviews

Critic Reviews

Roger Ebert
January 1, 2000
Roger Ebert, Chicago Sun-Times

Burnt by the Sun was not the best of the nominated foreign films (Before the Rain deserved to win), and is not even very original. Full Review

January 1, 2000
USA Today

Though my foreign Oscar pick would still have been Eat Drink Man Woman, Sun is such a personal close second that I can go with the academy novelty of novelties.

Emanuel Levy
January 11, 2009
Emanuel Levy, EmanuelLevy.Com

There's a touch of Chekhovian poetic realism in Mikhalkov's mesmerizingly beautiful chronicle of love, family, and the intrusion of politics, which won the 1994 best foreign-language Oscar. Full Review

Boo Allen
March 20, 2004
Boo Allen, Denton Record Chronicle (TX)

Brilliant allegory about retired Russian officer who discovers he can't escape Stalin's purges.

Marc Savlov
January 1, 2000
Marc Savlov, Austin Chronicle

A brilliant, Chekhovian meditation on trust, love, and the intrusive horrors that period of time brought to otherwise normal families. Full Review

Rob Gonsalves
January 1, 2000
Rob Gonsalves, eFilmCritic.com

Overbearing and, unsurprisingly, mostly forgotten. Full Review

Steve Rhodes
January 1, 2000
Steve Rhodes, Internet Reviews

I generally don't like slapstick comedy, and this movie was no exception. Full Review

Owen Gleiberman
September 7, 2011
Owen Gleiberman, Entertainment Weekly

Click to read the article Full Review

Caryn James
August 30, 2004
Caryn James, New York Times

Click to read the article Full Review

February 13, 2001
Los Angeles Times

Click to read the article Full Review

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