Courier (Kurer)

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Derek F Jul 10 I loved this film within its first few minutes. The way it was made, the dialogue, and the subject matter of this strange relationship between Ivan and Katya has such a profound earnestness about it that touched me deeply. I read that the actor who played Ivan (Fyodor Dunayevsky) hated his characters lines so much he made up his own. This guy made this film. Ivan is a lost youth in pre 1989 Moscow who has learned that being a bit of a cynical, flippant con artist with a hilariously mordant wit works in the outer world to help him, in a backwards way, get his needs met. What we also learn as the film plays out is that Ivan's deceit is very shallow: underneath this very thin exterior is a young man who is entirely authentic in how he is trying to find a way to engage with the outer world to locate his purpose within it. Fundamentally he is not trying to hide anything from others, other than from Katya's father as the story reveals. As the rich girl / poor boy from the wrong side of the Moscow highrise tenement tracks dynamic plays out, we learn that he is pretty much the only character in the film who is being honest with anyone about much of anything. He earnestly wants Katya, and he would do anything to have her, including doing what he did in the film, which to the viewer's surprise (not to mention confusion) Katya goes along with. The deceit cannot hold not because of his lie (the centerpiece of the film) but because as everyone learns during her outburst, Katya cannot cope as the light of his truth and depth of his feeling for her completely exposes her own fraudulence, causing her to out herself and end the relationship in the way she does. Completely, utterly genius from beginning to end, this is a frighteningly intelligent film, and adds credence to the adage that perhaps within such a profoundly broken state live a people who are in possession of a deep spiritual intelligence. This film would not have been made in the west - it would not have had a character like Ivan, it would not have explored issues such as these in the way they were, nor would it have resolved in the way it did. This film fundamentally is about the age old truth that everything hidden will eventually have light shone upon it. This is a spiritual concept largely absent in western art. See more Thomas S Jun 24 A powerful portrait of the generational rift in Soviet society during the 1980s. Courier captures the quiet rebellion of youth—aimless, ironic, and disillusioned—set against the rigid expectations of their parents. It's not loud or dramatic, but that’s exactly where its strength lies. The power of revolt, understated yet undeniable. See more Dmitrijs P 11/25/2024 Karen Shakhnazarov’s “Courier” attempts to capture the disillusionment and rebellion of Soviet youth in the 1980s, but it often feels directionless and lacking depth. The protagonist, Ivan, is presented as a symbol of youthful apathy, but his character development is shallow, leaving the audience disconnected from his journey. While the film aims to critique societal norms and generational divides, its humor and satire often feel forced, diluting the potential for impactful commentary. The pacing drags in places, with scenes that seem to add little to the overall narrative. While the interactions between Ivan and his love interest, Katya, hint at the complexities of class and ambition, these themes are underexplored, leaving the film’s message muddled. Visually, the film’s cinematography captures the bleakness of its setting, but it does little to elevate the story. The over-reliance on quirkiness and aimless conversations may appeal to some, but it ultimately comes across as unfocused and self-indulgent. For viewers seeking a more nuanced exploration of Soviet-era youth, “Courier” might feel like a missed opportunity. See more 12/19/2013 The end of Communist start here See more 10/17/2008 While the music and fashion seem heavily dated (not even to mention the film quality), the Soviet black-comedy "The Courier" was way ahead of it's times in a lot of ways. America has fallen in love with the skinny, identity-crisis stricken white-guy (see: Wristcutters: A Love Story, Garden State, etc.), but "The Courier" is one of the earliest (and better) examples I can find. Main character Ivan is a compulsively lying high-school grad who finds himself battling nihilism while trying to figure out how to express his feelings. Working as a courier, the film follows Ivan's adventures courting a college girl, keeping his own lies straight, and finding balance for himself. It all sounds cheesy after dozens of "indie" films today, but the film is earnest in ways the modern "indie flicks" try and fail to pull off. See more 07/11/2008 This ranks up there with Osennij Marafon (Autumn Marathon) in my (limited) exposure to Soviet comedies. Dunayevsky is superb as the apparently directionless, sarcastic, yet sweet Ivan. As is apparently common in this genre, the film veers from laugh-out-loud hilarious to absurd to gloomy (though not as dark as something like Rebro Adama [Adam's Rib] or Malenkaya Vera [Little Vera], also from the same period.) It is also a fascinating glimpse of youth culture in the perestroika period, and confronts some interesting questions about the relationship between the generations. See more Read all reviews

Courier (Kurer)

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