What was it? — probably the most important question that arises from the viewer from the first minutes of viewing this picture and does not let go to the end (if of course someone looks). Because it is very difficult not only to understand to what genre to attribute the film "Vladimir the Holy ", but in general to realize what he saw.
Perhaps the creators wanted to show a historical drama about the last days of the life of Prince Vladimir Svyatoslavich (even chamber). You can tell that from the plot. But why is there so much conditional, like in the theater? Even the performer of the main role Vladislav Strzhelchik looks not like Vladimir the Red Sun, but on the ancient Roman or Byzantine emperor. I don’t know what Vladimir really looked like. But it is safe to say that not as in the film, because in Russia it was customary to grow a mustache and beard. And so smooth-shaven Vladimir, like his people, look authentic (like Catholics).
Another version is the theater on the screen. In favor of it, the script itself (where monologues and dialogues are continuous), scenery, an unnatural light source, costumes speak. For example, when in the film Vladimir talks to Svyatopolk (who comes to him as a vision from the future), the young prince is illuminated in red as a symbol of blood for a fratricidal war. But there is no sense of presence in the theater due to the lack of noise in the audience, the actors on stage in the final, etc.
It was not clear what we were shown at the beginning of the film, when the screen was displayed credits, a member of the crew ... in jeans and a denim jacket. Not that mistake, not that conscious image of modernity.
In addition, the film, although it runs for 65 minutes, is actually too boring and looks heavy. Although its structure is generally clear. The protagonist on the threshold of life and death enters into a dialogue with his deceased pagan wife, relives some moments from the past (conversation with representatives of different religious concessions) and runs ahead, thinking about what will happen after his death.
I don't know what the creators were hoping for when they filmed it. But I understand that if you look at the year of release – 1993, you can guess why everything is so bad. But if the country was a mess, the movie was unprofitable, the actors worked either for pennies or for “thank you” was there such a need to shoot a movie where low-budget will be more a minus than a plus? Although what could be expected from the one-day studio "Dalex", which probably, having worked money, curtailed? And it should not be an excuse for the time of creation.
And you don’t even know what is worse – the high-budget and well-publicized Viking with Kozlovsky, or the poor and little-known St. Vladimir?
2 out of 10