This movie is anti-russian propaganda.
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Archived from the IMDb Discussion Forums — Transsiberian
strosz — 17 years ago(August 15, 2008 08:33 AM)
One aspect that truly wrecked the film is the constant portrayal of Russians as unfriendly and uncivilized brutes. Just about every Russian they meet is either a murderer, drunkard, beggar, militia, undercover agent or torturer. It's just too much and gets very tiring.
The only half-normal people in the film is the Americans who conveniently enough were there on a church trip to help poor people in China.
I understand that this is a thriller movie and that the selection of people I mentioned is needed to build up the suspense. But the people act as they do completely unprovoked and without any psychological build up. Like the Russian train service lady who don't answer questions and acts like an idiot all the time. It's laughable.
And what about the constant; "- This is Russia! What do you expect?" comments?
Badly hidden propaganda?
By the way, I am Swedish with a sympathy for neither of the countries. -
somethng — 17 years ago(August 15, 2008 02:01 PM)
I'm russian and actually i can assure that this movie is one of the most credible among movies that are trying to make impression of Russia. The storyline shown to to us can't happen in developed places like Moscow, St.Petersburg, Cheleabinks etc. But in such deep russian territory holes as the movie took place in - horrible iniquity and poverty happens to be.
I don't think that the movie was trying to propagandize something - Brad Anderson just made up a great story and stated it amazingly. Though i didn't like the happy ending - it was just unsuitable for this kind of script. -
nycjimmy — 17 years ago(December 07, 2008 03:41 AM)
Thanks for your perspective.
I was pleasantly surprised at how good this movie was and thought all the performances were excellent. Really superb!
BUT
I agree with your "happy ending" comment. I'm at a loss to suggest how they could have written a better one, but perhaps Jessie could have been more haunted.
Her character could have left Russia with a dread of being found out -in a "Deliverance" kind of way. -
deepblue501 — 17 years ago(December 08, 2008 01:57 AM)
i completely agree - there are weird parts of russia. Perhaps the movie gruz 200 was a little bit on the extreme side (although based on a true story) but this movie is definetely not propaganda. I live in Poland, and even here many times in the trains the service is bad and unfriendly (just walk into any polish station and try to buy a ticket), let alone in the middle of nowhere somewhere in Siberia.
No, i don't think Anderson has overdone it or he tried to picture russia as negative.
why don't you complain about the ENDLESS list of american movies portraying american society as brilliant, succesful and rich? There's plenty of propaganda like thatin the average american movie, everybody has a great job, a nice house, a perfect family, they enjoy life, smile all the time, and they never go to work. -
nicver — 17 years ago(January 04, 2009 04:46 PM)
On top of that he did travel on the Transsiberian and had a different approach in his discovery of Russia that by flying straight to Moscow.
My dad told me stories like that but as soon as the Russians realized he was French, people all of a sudden went out of their ways to help.
Bizarrely, although the French invaded Russia, killed and torched under Napoleon, they are still popular over there.
As for American tourists, I don't know what the reactions could be. The snotty fat American tourist would probably get the treatment, but a young couple like this one, who knows?
I do agree that sometimes we were in big fat stereotype country, especially with the singing, the boozing, the tiger attack and the Gulag survivor, etc
It would be like a foreign movie showing the US with a wall-to-wall South Central atmosphere, I think. -
cthulhulurks — 9 years ago(April 19, 2016 05:08 AM)
Poor sods never rode amtrak or greuhound. You Bunch of mongols
my vote history:
http://www.imdb.com/user/ur13767631/ratings -
horrorshowmovie — 17 years ago(August 16, 2008 11:24 PM)
As opposed to the main characters who are perfect angels?
Roy is a big, dumb guy.
Jessie is one of the insanely annoying tourists who constantly photographs people like they're animals in a zoo.
I don't know if they were supposed to be likeable, because they certainly annoyed the hell out of me.
"i didn't like the happy ending - it was just unsuitable for this kind of script."
Amen. I think this movie was trying to pay homage to strangers on a train (the whole theme of guilt and being unable to confess, even to a loved one), but it completely failed to provide the inevitable ending
the moment when they go out the conveniently placed back door into -23 degree weather with BARE FEET was when the movie went from standard to suck. -
lnoft97 — 17 years ago(August 17, 2008 08:12 AM)
I am an American of Russian descent and I can totally believe the vile behavior of the Russians in this movie, not from personal experience, but because our heroes need to be threatened to sustain the dark suspense. Cheery babushkas in colorful folk costumes, dispensing hot tea and selling nesting dolls wouldn't fit in at all. (besides, Russia is a cold dark place full of poverty and turmoil, alcohol and cigarettes, dismal tiny apartments, mafia getting all the good stuff - what do you expect?)
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casemon — 17 years ago(August 18, 2008 06:07 PM)
http://www.imdb.com/board/10800241/board/nest/115187614?d=115187614#115187614
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TheAdlerian — 17 years ago(August 21, 2008 06:09 PM)
Eastern Europeans are frequently, almost always portrayed as nuts in films. That's for two reasons, the first I won't mention, the second is due to a lack of creativity on the part of writers. They fall back on cold war ideas much like we still see Germans as Nazis although that was several generations ago.
I've been to Eastern Europe a variety of times and the people are very quiet and keep to themselves. In some countries at 2 AM lovers stroll around holding hands.
I felt a thousand times safer than in Philly, where I live. -
casemon — 17 years ago(August 21, 2008 06:18 PM)
TheAlderian, considering you are someone who has spent time in eastern europe and is able to see through general propaganda, what is your position on how eastern europeans are portrayed in Transsiberian? It wasn't clear to me in your reply.
Also would be interested if mathias-41 (the OP) replied to my link post above -
TheAdlerian — 17 years ago(August 21, 2008 09:19 PM)
I was checking to see feedback about the film which will start in Philly later today.
After I see it, I will return.
Meanwhile, my comment was about the film industry in general. The news media also enjoys presenting EEs as some threat, which is ridiculous. -
casemon — 17 years ago(August 21, 2008 09:57 PM)
You make a very relevant statement especially in regards to the media, given the massive & disgusting propaganda campaign currently being waged against Russia regarding Georgia.
I haven't seen such blatant & far reaching distortions for many years. It's clear to me that Israel and the US / NATO sure need an enemy (real or imagined) to justify their actions.
It is part of why I take interest in this topic on this film. So yes, please come back to us after you've seen the film, I would appreciate your thoughts on the matter. -
CorumJI — 17 years ago(October 19, 2008 04:00 PM)
You make a very relevant statement especially in regards to the media, given the massive & disgusting propaganda campaign currently being waged against Russia regarding Georgia.
Yeah, right.
Russia invades Georgia
, so as to do two things:- Point out to Europe what happens if it gets too cozy with the former client states of Russia.
- Substantially retain Russian control over European gas and oil contracts by beating the crap out of the competition.
Funny, the USA is directly threatened (repeatedly) by Iraq/Saddam, and it's "Unilateral action" by the USA which gets decried by all the lefties.
Russia invades a small, helpless neighbor
which is making no threats of any kind
and it's "What? You got a problem wit' dat?"
It's clear to me that Israel and the US / NATO sure need an enemy (real or imagined) to justify their actions.
Yeah,
invading another soveriegn nation which represents no threat at all to another state
. Naw. No threat at all!! That's just the US, NATO, and Israel(!?!?!) which are somehow "creating a threat from nothing".
AH!
I think I see what your problem is.
Look, everyone! He's gotten his cranium stuck so far up his rectal orifice it's coming back out the top. Impressive feat, that. I would've thought it physically impossible, but somehow he's managed it.
Yeesh.
You know, you might want to see some scientists about that condition of yours. It might lead to some interesting new insights into dimensional physics if they can figure out how you managed it.
.