The Icarus Films February 20, 2018 DVD of the 2014 Russian period drama "Sunstroke" is a nice indication that the spirit of Merchant Ivory lives on. The strikingly different styles in the periods just before and just after the Russian Revolution are adequately compelling to warrant watching this one.
The impressive accolades for this film by Oscar-winning director Nikita Mikhalkov ("Burnt by the Sun") includes Best Feature and other honors at the 2015 Golden Eagle Awards in Russia. "Sunstroke" also is the winner of the Best Cinematography award at the 2015 Shanghai International Film Festival.
"Sunstroke" centers around "The Lieutenant," who experiences the best of times in the portions of the film set in 1907 and the worst of times in the events that occur in 1920. The film opens in the latter period when Lieutenant is on the losing team that is being processed into a prison camp where the Communist army offers the choice of playing for the other side or essentially leaving on the next stagecoach and never coming back.
In contrast to the overcast weather and equally drab clothing and surroundings of 1920, Lieutenant is wearing a brilliantly white uniform while taking a several days boat trip in 1907. The engaged man immediately becomes entranced with "Strange Woman," who is married with children.
Our love-struck member of the army of the Tsar makes a complete fool of himself, almost is caught redhanded (no pun intended) in stalking of the object of his affection, and has a highly symbolic prized possession get smashed in the process of getting closer to Woman.
The title of the film directly refers to the climax (no pun intended) of the shipboard forbidden romance and indirectly to the pre-revolutionary period in general.
The ensuing parallel events relate to Lieutenant continuing to pursue Woman after the lady vanishes and he and his fellow soldiers/prisoners waiting to learn more about their fates. A cool (but predictable) aspect of this is a connection between developments near the end of both periods in the life of this Russian soldier.
Successfully blending these two (almost feature-length) stories that separately are feature-length leaves no doubt that Mikhalkov knows his stuff. Largely making the earlier period "Titanic" and the latter one "The Empire of the Sun" makes the entire film very audience friendly.
Anyone with questions or comments regarding "Sunstroke" is strongly encouraged either to email me or to connect on Twitter via @tvdvdguy.
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