Where do cranes fly The girl from the orphanage Olya and the blind boy Maxim - the son of a very rich father. When everything begins in the spirit of comedy, you don’t expect anything special from such an already tired couple of heroes (a rich disabled person and a punchy poor person). However, this film surprises not only with good humor, but also with hidden sadness. Olya and Maxim decide to escape to Crane Bay - Olya from the orphanage, Maxim from his father with his excessive custody. Crane Bay is an image of some edge of the world; it seems that you can no longer escape. If you look closely, then many of the characters of this film want to escape somewhere, in some fairy-tale world: young Dpsnik Valera - in the Hollywood world of brave American policemen, Maxim's mother - in an idyllic family with healthy children, rural youth - in the world of luxury with a red Ferrari. The director skillfully and carefully leads high school characters through the surface of the real danger of far from fabulous life visible here, not allowing them to dive either into a fight with a crowd of hooligans, or into a drug dope, or into any other accident on their way in this original road movie. And this road you need to go exactly to the end - Maxim understands that at any time he can return to his father, but he also understands that only up to the last kilometer the path traveled will help him not to lose Olya - the only person for him with whom you can get into a real fairy tale. 7 out of 10 Original
The film of the young director Egor Salnikov “Look Like Me” is an amazingly good movie about young people, shot in the genre of road adventure. How can it be a good movie if it tells the story of the escape of two sixteen-year-olds from home? And if you consider that one of them fled from an orphanage, it is quite expected that the film should be one hundred percent black, because everyone knows what are the pupils of orphanages and what are their morals. Helpful imagination immediately suggests: there will be the use of illegal substances, early sex and stories of violence. But luckily, there's almost none of that set here, the film is actually comedy.
I want to talk about the comedic part of this film. She seems to be secondary, at least the main characters do little funny things. So comedy stories here are far from the best quality, you can even say simple. Perhaps this is done intentionally, as happens in Indian films, a kind of background buffoon for a clearer display of the main plot action.
Although the film is almost a fairy tale plot, it does not create a sense of fairy tale, because it is full of very vital and not at all joyful episodes. But in general, after watching it, there was a very pleasant feeling and some confidence that everything should end well for his characters. Although some people I know have a different opinion about the ending of the film, some of them believe that the ending is very sad and it all ended tragically. But I really enjoyed the film, its youthful atmosphere, its music, and it was just a pleasure to see young people who were not addicted to drugs, alcohol and not immersed in their sexual problems and search for their gender identity. Unfortunately, in imported cinema this has become strictly mandatory, and fortunately in this film you can take a break from this kind of propaganda.
Russian cinema does not so often indulge the viewer with bright good comedies, giving out time after time either plotless thrash films with residents of the Camedi Club, or meaningless author projects with extremely specific humor, or box office developments that shamelessly plagiarize Western cinema. Truly good films with pleasant characters who want to empathize, our filmmakers almost do not release. That makes it doubly pleasant when you come across such works, among other large-format garbage.
From “Look Like Me” almost nothing is expected: a director who noted only short films, a group of writers-debutants, unknown actors or actors who always play in the background and a penny budget. It’s really nice that the movie was really good.
Now for a little bit of everything.
1. SOURCE
Orkhan Samadov, Anastasia Amalikova, Sofia Demina and Egor Salnikov for the first time performed in the role of screenwriters. And, apparently, they developed the script of the picture with all their heart.
The plot tells about a girl from an orphanage and a blind guy with a rich and insanely infantile father. The main characters run together to get to the sea, getting on the way to a lot of funny and emotional situations. The film is a bright representative, which has recently become quite popular, of the genre of road-movie and is an extraordinary teenage comedy, sentimental enough to laugh at the clumsiness of the characters, and to be saddened by the twists and turns of their lives.
The whole scenario is as simple and predictable as possible. The viewer can guess from the start how the film will end, and almost certainly will be right. History does not bring anything new to the cinema and is dotted with plot clichés. But they're nice to see! Perhaps due to a shortage of good domestic comedies, which you watch with a touching smile on your face, a film that, in fact, is not something new or incredible, is perceived as something amazing. After all, if “Look Like Me” had no Russian color, it would not differ in any way from foreign analogues, which breed 3-4 paintings a year.
2. PRODUCTION
Egor Salnikov is my personal discovery. The redhead from “Give Youth” in the director’s chair at first almost pushed away from watching the film. Looking at his filmography of secondary characters, you can expect a three-comedy in the style of “Bitter”, but not a good lyrical drama without a drop of jokes “below the belt”.
The picture is pleasant to watch, and the drama is built clearly and not at all torn, which happens to beginner directors who have moved from a short meter to a full one. There are interesting angles, and well-staged shots inherent in the road Movie. The director did not open a new milestone in cinema, but what he did, served delicious and juicy.
3. Actor's Game
The main screen pair plays great. 22-year-old Olga Turchak (Secrets of the investigation) and Mikhail Meshcheryakov (Guests), for whom these were the first big roles in the movie, qualitatively play their characters. They are pleasant to look at, they want to empathize, their emotions really believe.
I would also like to mention Alexander Samoilenko (Daddy’s daughter), who played the father of one of the main characters. His character changes favorably throughout the film from the image of an infantile man to the image of an adult man who is able to draw adult conclusions.
“Look Like Me” is a very soulful and lamp comedy that can melt the hearts of viewers and make you believe that Russian teenage comedies can be touching and kindly funny.
Summary: a film for family viewing over a cup of strong tea with gingerbread.
At first I was afraid to confess... pss. It's a mix with a hedgehog. I mean, "Holopa" with "Reaching to Heaven." ..
Alas, the production film does not leave room for maneuver: it should pay off, so that - the plots are taken proven, and the approaches to them too, increasingly trendy. And all sorts of arrangements and immersive shows are now the nail of the season (by the way, it is also quite immersive - the show "pandemic" is called).
But, my God! All those scenes were so fun, the actors were so charming, the sketches were so sticky. And even the shots on the boat, with open arms, in the rays of the sun (and only dolphins were not enough), so cute and hurtful - that I of course shouted at that moment "I am the king of the world!"
My name is Mackson.
And I broke the horn!
In a word, neither a scene is a meme, that neither a character is an archetype.
From the first seconds, this stunning carnival captures you and carries you with a light breeze and adventure. We all have our own pain and vulnerability. Two teenagers are almost children who do not seem to be too happy: one arranges a boil on a schedule in an orphanage and dreams of escaping to Baba Sima, carrying the key to her house by the sea under her heart – on a shoelace. The other is tired of the fact that he has everything, any desire will be instantly fulfilled, but it is unlikely that he is understood and ahead - one hopeless dreary absurdity.
- Is this really a hospital?
- Of course the hospital! There is a hospital at every turn.
In general, apart from the road movie, this story is about finding yourself. As in any adventure novel since Don Quixote, Watch As I Am is full of all sorts of confusion, ridiculous collisions and stupid pranks. Carnival is gaining momentum - everything flashes, quickly replaces each other. And even the most trembling themes: child vulnerability, betrayal of relatives and loss of loved ones are shown as children's play.
- My wife at work was given a catalog, and there are samples with the smell of cherry.
- Would you like to rub it?
- It won't hurt.
And this light cheerful intonation is probably the most beautiful thing in the film. Youth is full of sun, laughter, hopes and romance. It is a great time in life to stay in it. And the film, at least for an hour and a half, gives such a chance - to feel like a kid again and shout with all the crap:
"I am the king of the world!"
Olya is a 16-year-old fire girl who is tired of adult nagging and decided to escape from the shelter. Maxim is a blind guy who is tired of enduring the quirks of his rich father. Life accidentally brings them together, and they decide to go on an adventure in search of such a desired freedom. This adventure will not only temper their character, but also help to understand - what is the most important thing in their lives?
I love watching the debut films of young directors. And if there are also actors involved, it generally turns into an incredibly interesting experience, which always promises many pleasant movie surprises.
“Look Like Me” is an extremely touching, vivid and emotional anthem for the teenage protest, which always has an incredible amount of claims against adults. The issue of fathers and children exists at any stage of human development, and today it is much more acute, because information accessibility gives adolescents an understanding much earlier about what they want.
Having escaped from the orphanage, Olya tries to fulfill her long-held dream - to be the most responsible for her future and for her actions. Incredibly stupid and biased teachers, who have long been mired in the satisfaction of only their interests, do not allow Ole to breathe freely and strive for what she dreams of. Having run away from his father, who, although he provides Maxim with absolutely all the conditions for a good life, the guy wants to prove to himself and others that he is not just the son of a rich dad, but also a completely self-sufficient person who strives for incredible and new emotions.
Egor Salnikov is well known to us as an actor, and now gives us the opportunity to evaluate his directorial qualities. And you know, it turned out very well. Childishly carefree and adult relevant. A fairly standard script, thanks to the excellent acting works of not only the young main characters, but also Elena Biryukova, Alexander Samoilenko and Dmitry Mukhamadeev, is turning into a pleasant summer film that will interestingly and fascinatingly tell us about youthful maximalism, which we have already begun to forget.
Easy and pleasant comedy with a beautiful picture will be an excellent film for a romantic date and for going to the movies with teenagers. Nothing personal – just the emphasis on the fact that adults need to take into account the wishes of adolescents, and not just promote their old postulates. Times are changing!
Sometimes you just want to run away from everything, somewhere where no one will find you. There, far away, where no one knows you, you can be anyone, dream and turn fantasies into reality. Well, who among us would not like to go where eyes look, forget about work, household duties and constant hassle, turning our everyday life into a gray endless routine. Of course, all these are just dreams, but if you imagine that they can become reality, the heart somehow immediately becomes warmer. That’s why I really liked the new movie called “Look Like Me” because it brought to the screen what so often we all want.
Now meet the main characters of this story. Let's start with Oli. She a priori could not have a happy childhood, since growing up in an orphanage does not pass without a trace for anyone. So our Olya grew up a little rough, self-confident girl, who nevertheless forgot how to dream and tries never to be discouraged, especially since she set herself a little naive, but such a fascinating goal, namely to go to the sea, where there is only freedom and nothing superfluous. But the sea is more of a metaphor. It is clear that the girl aimed at something special, personal and important.
The second hero of this extraordinary adventure becomes Maxim, the son of a rich father, who seems to need nothing, but in fact he has much more fetters than Oli. Let’s start with the fact that the guy is blind and his father does not allow him to step too far without a pointer. And when Olya appears in Maxim’s life, he begins to understand the true beauty of freedom and friendship, which can turn into something more. But so far, a trip to the sea is on the agenda and nothing should prevent our heroes from fulfilling their plans. Then whatever happens.
It seems that the film is inherently quite simple, but if you look deep into the history, get acquainted with the characters and experience what they feel, then “Watch as I” turns into a very interesting, even non-standard movie, which literally captures you with its energy and emotionality. Such dissimilar characters are literally created for each other, but the cool thing is that the images and the adventures themselves turned out to be real. There is no false grotesque and no superfluous philosophy. The movie turned out to be vital, and therefore you believe in the heroes and sincerely worry about them.
For director Yegor Salnikov, this is the first really high-profile directorial project. We used to know him mainly as an actor, but now he has proved that he can make films as well as other honored masters. The thing is that Salnikov is young, he knows how to feel the mood of his audience and understands the heroes whose story tells.
As a result, I want to say that “Look Like Me” refers to films that unexpectedly shot straight at the target, which very quietly approached their viewers, but in the end they become a real treasure that you do not want to let go of your hands.
8 out of 10
Often, due to the dominance of endless dramas or epic domestic productions, the viewer does not pay attention to such films. That's too bad. The beginning team of filmmakers, led by a talented young director Yegor Salnikov, gave us one of the brightest Russian films of this year.
I haven’t seen such incredible soulfulness in this movie in a long time. The adventures of Olga, who escaped from the orphanage, and the blind Maxim, who was annoyed with his antics by his rich father, are filled with a bright rainbow of excellent humor, the smell of beckoning freedom and an incredible number of opportunities that the future life opens for them.
Maybe they missed each other, or maybe they just gave each other hope that not everything is so dull in this life and still have the opportunity to achieve their dreams, if next to you there is one who moves with you in the same direction and breathes in unison. Incredibly pleasant story, which is not at all spoiled by second-rate humor, but filled with excellent characters with clear motivation – this is all the film “Look Like Me”.
And through the mouth of one of the characters, the director sends a competent message: “Look how I am – this is philosophy.” When you manage to find the same as you crazy, brave, confident companion with positive goals, then life in any case will shine with positive colors. It doesn’t matter if you can’t see it or if you’re a child.
I was very pleased with the secondary characters. What is only a comeback in the movie "Mashi Allya Rus" - Elena Biryukova. I played a snake, a snake. And yes, there are people like that.
Of course, this story is a little idealized, because in real life everything could have turned out more than otherwise. But! The film speaks about the belief in a bright future, which should stock up modern teenagers. And this makes the film a kind of ode to youth: "Dance - while young!"
8 out of 10