'The Irony of Fate' is a Russian Tradition
“The Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath” was released in 1975 Soviet era Russia, which makes the film so much more interesting. What seems to the outsider as a heavy critique of Soviet architecture and urban planning somehow made it past the censors to become a beloved New Year’s Eve film for Russians.
“Irony” opens with a cartoon explanation of Soviet construction as buildings that are created the same march over diverse scenes from beachfront property to desert dunes, the buildings look alike. The film further explains that in every town, streets look the same and have the same names, so when the stranger goes from one city to another, he will feel right at home. It is important to understand this in order for the film to work because it all depends on the mistaken identity of an entire city.
If you have seen “The Hangover,” “Before Sunrise,” and “Noises Off!,” you might get a sense for this epic Russian film that runs about 3 hours. There’s drinking, comedy, philosophy and lots of running amok with the door opening and closing and the doorbell ringing at inopportune times. The comedy is broad enough that people of any culture should understand it, especially with the way the film opens. It explains the essentials for everyone. For those who want to understand a slice of life from Russia, “The Irony of Fate” is required viewing. For a real explanation with spoilers, see the video below.
“Irony” opens with a cartoon explanation of Soviet construction as buildings that are created the same march over diverse scenes from beachfront property to desert dunes, the buildings look alike. The film further explains that in every town, streets look the same and have the same names, so when the stranger goes from one city to another, he will feel right at home. It is important to understand this in order for the film to work because it all depends on the mistaken identity of an entire city.
If you have seen “The Hangover,” “Before Sunrise,” and “Noises Off!,” you might get a sense for this epic Russian film that runs about 3 hours. There’s drinking, comedy, philosophy and lots of running amok with the door opening and closing and the doorbell ringing at inopportune times. The comedy is broad enough that people of any culture should understand it, especially with the way the film opens. It explains the essentials for everyone. For those who want to understand a slice of life from Russia, “The Irony of Fate” is required viewing. For a real explanation with spoilers, see the video below.