Archangel

Cast

Kyle McCulloch
as Lt. John Boles

Kathy Marykuca
as Veronkha

Sarah Neville
as Danchuk

Michael Gottli
as Jannings

David Falkenberg
as Geza

Michael O'Sullivan
as Doctor

Victor Cowie
as Captain

Ari Cohen

David Falkenburg

Margaret Anne MacLeod

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Critic Reviews for Archangel

Audience Reviews for Archangel

• Dec 06, 2010

  It is Archangel, Russia in 1919 between World War I and the Russian Civil War. British Lieutenant John Boles(Kyle McCulloch) is assigned to billet with a native family where he winds up saving the life of Geza(David Falkenburg), their young child, but then he ends up having to be saved, too. In his delirium, he thinks he sees Iris, his dead wife, but it turns out to be only Veronkha(Kathy Marykuca) who is in fact married to Philbin(Ari Cohen). The only problem is Philbin cannot remember much of anything, much less who he might be married to. One never watches a Guy Maddin film for historical realism(usually it involves being in the mood for something a little different) but it is important to note that "Archangel," one of his earliest features, is set in a time of uncertainty when nobody knows who is in charge or if there is a actually a war going on which is perfect for his dreamy style. That informs a lot of the relations between the characters which I could not sort out in a hundred years. That having been said, I still found enough to be intriguing and enjoyable to make it worth my time.
  Walter M Super Reviewer
• Feb 09, 2009

  In frozen Archangel in 1919, a one-legged lieutenant meets a woman whose husband has amnesia and believes it is always their wedding day, while the local militia fights both Germans and Bolsheviks, not realizing that both World War I and the Russian Revolution are over. A dreamlike and melancholy meditation on forgetfulness, ignorance and confusion, done in the style of an early sound film.
  Greg S Super Reviewer
• Dec 05, 2008

  After watching this I'm not quite convinced that Maddin and Lynch weren't separated at birth. Maddin doesn't make movies, so much as he transfers dreams to celluloid. I've given up on trying to explain his plots, since no synopsis ever really does the them justice. I'll just say that if you're a fan of surrealism, you should give this one a shot. I can almost guarantee that you won't be disappointed.
  Shane D Super Reviewer

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