Assa (film)
Encyclopedia
Assa is a Soviet film directed by Sergei Solovyov
and released in 1987. It became a cult film
, mostly thanks to the fact that it was one of the films that brought Russian rock
music from the underground
into the mainstream.
), a young nurse who stays in Yalta
with her patient and lover Krymov (Stanislav Govorukhin
), who is considerably older than she is. Krymov is the head of a criminal group
and is being watched by inept KGB
agents, but Alika is not completely aware of it. In Yalta Alika meets Bananan (Sergei "Afrika" Bugaev), a young and eccentric underground rock musician, who introduces her to the Soviet counterculture. When Krymov discovers that Alika is developing a relationship with Bananan, he becomes jealous and tries to convince Bananan to leave Alika and Yalta altogether; after Bananan refuses, Krymov's minions murder him. When he tells Alika about this, she murders him and is arrested by the Militsiya
, although they treat her gently.
Another minor plot line shows the history of the murder of tsar Paul I of Russia
. It is based on a book by Natan Eidelman
, which Krymov is shown reading throughout the movie.
, Soyuz kompozitorov, Yury Chernavsky with Vesyolye Rebyata
and Kino
. Boris Grebenshchikov
of Aquarium wrote the film's instrumental soundtrack and he is also referenced in the film's dialog: Bananan says that Grebenshchikov "is a God who radiates light".
The film's memorable final scene symbolizes the liberation of Russian music from the state-imposed restrictions. In the scene, which is barely related to the plot, Bananan's band-mate brings Viktor Tsoi
, the singer of Kino, portrayed by himself, to work in a restaurant as a singer; the restaurant manager starts reading to him the strict rules that all restaurant performers must follow, but instead of listening to her, Tsoi goes straight to the stage and starts singing I Want Changes! (Хочу перемен!); after some time the camera turns around and shows that he's not in a restaurant, but in front of a huge admiring crowd of young people in a theatre. This song became strongly associated with the social changes in the Soviet Union in the times of Perestroika
and Glasnost
in late 1980s, and the Russian opposition movement Solidarnost
chose it as its anthem.
Another experimental scene shows one of Krymov's minions (Alexander Bashirov) being interrogated about Krymov's criminal activities. In an attempt to avoid squealing
he pretends to be insane and reads a monologue about being traumatized by the death of Yuri Gagarin
. The monologue was improvised by Bashirov.
Sergei Solovyov
Sergei Alexandrovich Solovyov is a Russian director, producer, writer and actor. He was awarded by the Russian SFSR People's Artist title.-Biography:...
and released in 1987. It became a cult film
Cult film
A cult film, also commonly referred to as a cult classic, is a film that has acquired a highly devoted but specific group of fans. Often, cult movies have failed to achieve fame outside the small fanbases; however, there have been exceptions that have managed to gain fame among mainstream audiences...
, mostly thanks to the fact that it was one of the films that brought Russian rock
Russian rock
Russian rock refers to rock music made in Russia or in the Russian language. Rock and roll became known in the Soviet Union in the 1960s and quickly broke free from its western roots. According to many music critics, its "golden age" years were the 1980s , when the Soviet underground rock bands...
music from the underground
Underground music
Underground music comprises a range of different musical genres that operate outside of mainstream culture. Such music can typically share common values, such as the valuing of sincerity and intimacy; an emphasis on freedom of creative expression; an appreciation of artistic creativity...
into the mainstream.
Plot
The film has several plot lines. The main plot line is taking place in the early 1980s and tells the story of Alika (Tatyana DrubichTatyana Drubich
Tatyana Drubich is a Russian film actress. She has appeared in 20 films since 1972. She starred in the 1974 film Sto dney posle detstva, which was entered into the 25th Berlin International Film Festival where it won the Silver Bear for Best Director.-Selected filmography:* Sto dney posle detstva...
), a young nurse who stays in Yalta
Yalta
Yalta is a city in Crimea, southern Ukraine, on the north coast of the Black Sea.The city is located on the site of an ancient Greek colony, said to have been founded by Greek sailors who were looking for a safe shore on which to land. It is situated on a deep bay facing south towards the Black...
with her patient and lover Krymov (Stanislav Govorukhin
Stanislav Govorukhin
Stanislav Sergeyevich Govorukhin has been one of the most popular Soviet and Russian film directors since the 1960s...
), who is considerably older than she is. Krymov is the head of a criminal group
Organized crime
Organized crime or criminal organizations are transnational, national, or local groupings of highly centralized enterprises run by criminals for the purpose of engaging in illegal activity, most commonly for monetary profit. Some criminal organizations, such as terrorist organizations, are...
and is being watched by inept KGB
KGB
The KGB was the commonly used acronym for the . It was the national security agency of the Soviet Union from 1954 until 1991, and was the premier internal security, intelligence, and secret police organization during that time.The State Security Agency of the Republic of Belarus currently uses the...
agents, but Alika is not completely aware of it. In Yalta Alika meets Bananan (Sergei "Afrika" Bugaev), a young and eccentric underground rock musician, who introduces her to the Soviet counterculture. When Krymov discovers that Alika is developing a relationship with Bananan, he becomes jealous and tries to convince Bananan to leave Alika and Yalta altogether; after Bananan refuses, Krymov's minions murder him. When he tells Alika about this, she murders him and is arrested by the Militsiya
Militsiya
Militsiya or militia is used as an official name of the civilian police in several former communist states, despite its original military connotation...
, although they treat her gently.
Another minor plot line shows the history of the murder of tsar Paul I of Russia
Paul I of Russia
Paul I was the Emperor of Russia between 1796 and 1801. He also was the 72nd Prince and Grand Master of the Order of Malta .-Childhood:...
. It is based on a book by Natan Eidelman
Natan Eidelman
Natan Eidelman , was a Russian author and historian. He wrote several books on about the life and work of Alexander Pushkin, Decembrists Sergey Muravyov-Apostol and Mikhail Lunin, and historian Nikolai Mikhailovich Karamzin.-Bibliography:*Conspiracy Against the Tsar. A Portrait of the Decembrists...
, which Krymov is shown reading throughout the movie.
Experimental scenes and Russian rock relation
Besides the two conventional plot lines, the film is notable for having many experimental scenes which are only loosely related to the plot: Bananan's surreal dreams, "footnotes" with explanation of Russian rock slang and performances of complete Russian rock songs by Aquarium, BravoBravo (band)
Bravo is a rock band founded in 1983 in Moscow, Russia by guitarist Evgueny Havtan.The band was one of the most popular acts in Russia in the 1980s, until the departure of original lead singer Zhanna Aguzarova , and has achieved success in later years with several different singers.- Studio albums...
, Soyuz kompozitorov, Yury Chernavsky with Vesyolye Rebyata
Vesyolye Rebyata
Vesyolye Rebyata is a Soviet pop rock band formed in 1966, in Moscow, by pianist and composer Pavel Slobodkin.Debut EP was sold to 15,795,000 copies....
and Kino
Kino (band)
Kino was a Soviet rock band headed by Viktor Tsoi. It was one of the most famous Soviet rock groups of the 1980s.-History:The band was formed in the summer of 1981 in Leningrad, USSR Kino was a Soviet rock band headed by Viktor Tsoi. It was one of the most famous Soviet rock groups of the...
. Boris Grebenshchikov
Boris Grebenshchikov
Boris Borisovich Grebenshchikov also known as Boris Purushottama Grebenshikov, is one of the most prominent members of the generation which is widely considered the "founding fathers" of Russian rock music...
of Aquarium wrote the film's instrumental soundtrack and he is also referenced in the film's dialog: Bananan says that Grebenshchikov "is a God who radiates light".
The film's memorable final scene symbolizes the liberation of Russian music from the state-imposed restrictions. In the scene, which is barely related to the plot, Bananan's band-mate brings Viktor Tsoi
Viktor Tsoi
Viktor Robertovich Tsoi ; 21 June 1962 – 15 August 1990) was a Soviet rock musician, leader of the band Kino.He is regarded as one of the pioneers of Russian rock and has many devoted fans across the countries of the former Soviet Union even today...
, the singer of Kino, portrayed by himself, to work in a restaurant as a singer; the restaurant manager starts reading to him the strict rules that all restaurant performers must follow, but instead of listening to her, Tsoi goes straight to the stage and starts singing I Want Changes! (Хочу перемен!); after some time the camera turns around and shows that he's not in a restaurant, but in front of a huge admiring crowd of young people in a theatre. This song became strongly associated with the social changes in the Soviet Union in the times of Perestroika
Perestroika
Perestroika was a political movement within the Communist Party of the Soviet Union during 1980s, widely associated with the Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev...
and Glasnost
Glasnost
Glasnost was the policy of maximal publicity, openness, and transparency in the activities of all government institutions in the Soviet Union, together with freedom of information, introduced by Mikhail Gorbachev in the second half of the 1980s...
in late 1980s, and the Russian opposition movement Solidarnost
Solidarnost
Solidarnost is a Russian liberal democratic political movement founded on 13 December 2008 by a number of well-known members of the liberal democratic opposition, including Garry Kasparov, Boris Nemtsov and others from the Yabloko and Union of Right Forces Solidarnost (Солидарность, Russian for...
chose it as its anthem.
Another experimental scene shows one of Krymov's minions (Alexander Bashirov) being interrogated about Krymov's criminal activities. In an attempt to avoid squealing
Informant
An informant is a person who provides privileged information about a person or organization to an agency. The term is usually used within the law enforcement world, where they are officially known as confidential or criminal informants , and can often refer pejoratively to the supply of information...
he pretends to be insane and reads a monologue about being traumatized by the death of Yuri Gagarin
Yuri Gagarin
Yuri Alekseyevich Gagarin was a Soviet pilot and cosmonaut. He was the first human to journey into outer space, when his Vostok spacecraft completed an orbit of the Earth on April 12, 1961....
. The monologue was improvised by Bashirov.