BACK IN THE USSR
US, 1992, 83 minutes, Colour.
Frank Whaley, Natalya Negoda, Roman Polanski, Dey Young.
Directed by Deran Sarafian.
Back in the USSR takes its title from the Lennon- Mc Cartney song but is not in that league. It is a weak comedy-thriller, set soon after the collapse of the Soviet Empire in a Moscow which is becoming dominated by corruption, and the emergence of the Russian Mafia. Frank Whaley plays one of those American tourists that ought not be allowed out of America, let alone given a visa. All he seems to be wanting is what he calls "a good time". However, in a moment of chivalry, he becomes involved in quite a mess, the stealing of an icon, a prostitute trying to get it for the Mafia, the Mafia bosses thinking they have been betrayed, muggings and robberies in the street. He behaves as an American tourist, demanding to speak English, where he is told that he ought to learn Russian!
The film ends with his heroics and his emergence as a kind of superhero who is able to solve all the problems as well as falling in love with the young prostitute. Perhaps the only reason for seeing the film is the presence of Roman Polanski in a substantial role as a Mafia chief.
1. The limited release of this film? Entertainment value? Interest in the Russian Mafia? The picturing of Moscow soon after the collapse of the Soviet Empire?
2. The Moscow settings, authenticity, the streets, clubs, warehouses? The scenic and touristic background? The musical score - and the title song?
3. Archer and his obtuseness, wanting a good time, exasperation with the concierge and his visa, going to the clubs? His seeing the young woman, following her, at the club, getting involved with the stealing of the icon? Going to the apartment, her collaborators? His leaving, being mugged, the stealing of the icon? His being pursued by the Mafia, by the police? His various adventures, retracing his steps, the dangers? The final heroism, his getting the icon back? Visit to the American Embassy, his exasperation, his being used by the assistant, Claudia? The ambassador finally realising the truth? His leaving as a hero? Transformed or not?
4. Lena, with the icon thief, taking the bag, being pursued, her friends, prostitution, her links with the Mafia chief? The attraction towards Archer? The shared adventures, the dangers? The happy ending for the future?
5. The opening of the film with the icon, the sale, the hijacking, the death of the monk? The authority and his collection? His brutality and shooting people, confronting the Mafia? The portrait of official corruption?
6. The young people in Moscow, the clubs, drugs, sex, the contrast with life under communist rule? The Mafia, the confrontations, using wits, cars, shootouts, stabbings?
7. Kurilov and Roman Polanski's presence and performance? Menacing, the pursuit, the demands, the dangers, his henchmen, deaths?
8. The American ambassador, his exasperation, Claudia and her presence, the connection with Kurilov, on the plane, her luggage being checked? Her being exposed as a thief?
9. The overall impact of this kind of film - as entertainment, as a portrait of Americans in Europe, as a picture of the post-Soviet Union?
