I know, I know, I'm in the minority (or, more precisely, in unity). All other reviewers were struck by this so-called documentary short about the Don region.
I'm not. The point is not that the places shown do not attract: there are no claims to nature, sometimes I really wanted to step over to the other side of the screen.
It's about directing and selecting material. In my personal opinion, “Journey through the Don” does not go beyond the “attractive tourist hook”, which should be taken by both foreigners and Russians who love the expanses of their native country. “Hook” at the same time is quite banal: you no longer need the voices of boring announcers telling “uncomfortable notes” and various interesting facts about anything related to the geography of the film. Why would anyone know anything? Even if only briefly. We're just going to create a video sequence that doesn't have too much camera work, coupled with atypical angles, and we're going to put modern compositions under it. By the way, the musical track mentioned here, although quite cheerfully pushes forward the chain of studies of unknown regions, but the music itself ... sorry, not for my ears. Mixing some club mixes with classical symphonies looks (or better to say – listens), frankly, “restaurant”. Therefore, “Journey through the Don” can be quietly played on plasma TVs in establishments near Rostov, so that refectory tourists had somewhere to duck their eyes during the absorption of all kinds of provisions.
Magnificent landscapes, an abundance of attractions, a bird's eye view, flora and fauna of the Don region, a little urban lyrics ... There's not much of that here. What is the traditional content of this commercial? Of course, there is no idea why tourists appearing, scurrying around parks and mindlessly sitting on benches; beer, crayfish and other local cuisine, and close-up, as if we are watching a video menu of some cafe, not a geographical documentary; mixing church crosses with party spots ... People come back and show food again. With each frame, it becomes clearer that the creators of the film did not suffer from its concept, but simply shot everything that they like and that can attract people to this area.
No, of course, "Journey through the Don" is a beautiful short. However, to take it seriously in documentary terms is ridiculous. The authors didn’t bother to capture more attractive landscapes, show a few more interesting city buildings, but there are plenty of people and food. And even if the accompanying announcer would be superfluous, then why so disfigure the musical design by mixing harmonious chords with a strange club cacophony?
In the end, it was possible to create at least an hourly, fully illuminating the beauty of the Don region documentary, and not skating through forests, steppes, mountains and cities video advertising. Ideally, of course.
And to the ideal, as you know, many of us strive and strive, fly and fly.
4 out of 10
The film is shot in an interesting manner, each new place is marked by its own melody, creating a special mood, drawing the nature of attractions.
The variety of plans harmoniously fits into the rhythmic component of musical design. The video as if “plays along” the audio series, thus creating the mood of the holiday, a sense of joy and admiration for all seen.
The storyline is clearly visible. It is worth noting smooth transitions from one geographical object to another and a clear, dynamic change of frames within individual cities. Not only well-known architectural structures, monuments appear before us, we get acquainted with the wildlife of the Don region, with its natural riches, recreation places, with residents and their traditions.
Especially pleasing to the soul is the scene with Cossacks on horses, masterfully wielding sabers, accompanied by Cossack chants. Isn't that the climax of the movie? It is in this place that the heart of everyone who cherishes and is proud of their roots freezes. After all, similar to what has been shown up to this point, you can find everywhere, and the Cossack life is our specificity, our main difference.
It is very important that when using the traditions of famous world TV channels, the main thing was not lost - Don himself, his face, character, features.
Bright, vivid images of the native land I saw in this film. But for the first few minutes, I didn’t realize the movie was really about Don. This information was so new and unusual. I am very happy with the author’s cities. I didn’t even know we were so good and beautiful. And if I was a tourist from another country, after watching the film, I would definitely be excited to visit this region.
I really liked the dynamic tempo rhythm of the staff. A sense of general movement forward. Decent associative personnel.
The film with wealth told about the charms of his native land in the style of BBC films. It is not a shame to show this film abroad. After watching the film, there is a residual sense of harmony, everything in it in its places: credits, shots, musical accompaniment. The most important thing is that I want to watch this movie again after the first and second viewing. The film reflects the subjective vision of the Don region by the author, but I am sure that many Donetsk residents like it.
The impression of the film is positive. Honestly, I was very pleased. Even pride in the consciousness of our native land has increased. In what a new, unconventional light all the charms of Don appeared before us. Bright, lively, exciting images combined with fast, energetic music.
Feeling of continuous forward movement, dynamic tempo rhythm. There is no shame in showing this movie abroad. If I were a tourist, I would definitely want to visit the Don region after watching the film. Satisfied with the cities chosen by the author.
The film skillfully combines subject images of everyday life and material values of the region with the soul side, with faces, with ordinary people.
In this presentation film, everyone will find something for themselves: artists, poets, as well as all creative people will see here the flight of the soul, the endless Don steppes, bright harmonious frames of nature, and those who are more interested in entertainment, for example, or various food riches (they are also full of our land), will surely find a small manual on how to relax and have fun on the Don! In short, the film is worthy of the edge it presents!
The comparison may be beaten, but fair: there is a layering of pictures - live, bizarre, even strangers, looking at which, you think: "Oh, this is what you are, the edge of the Donskoy!" I underestimated it, I admit. But this is the opinion of the layman, and if you dive deeper into the creative plan of the creator, then you ask yourself another question - how? How did the beginning of an African safari film with cows running along the Cossack “prairies” blend into this stubborn, unweathered atmosphere of the Don spirit? Maybe it's cows, not antelopes with golden hooves? And dawn... The dawn, transmitted so brightly, so reverently, is the one that the Donetsk residents will not confuse with any other, no matter how ridiculous it may sound.
And the kaleidoscope opens up new panoramas, and the musical accompaniment, meanwhile, murmurs, shimmers, expires with waves of serenity, tranquility, lightness. And here's the paradox: the film is not something that delights, intrigues or excites - not quite. He is more pacifying, pleasantly tickling nerves, especially in the episode where the abundance of fruits and foods is so teasing, so blackmailing that it is almost blasphemous not to recognize the Don as a paradise. You look at it and enjoy it so easily.
And he's funny. Yeah, that's funny. Here, along the quiet street of Starocherkassk, shoulder to shoulder, two such cute priests in black cassocks, with beards, talking about something enthusiastically. Aren't their worldly concerns bothering them? Very interesting, but... There's a "but." People - cheerful and sad, sincere and mysterious, after all, few. They're flashing in the frames, but there could be more. The most diverse, the most unique, like those original places that appeared before us in the “kaleidoscope”. But if not our faces, then our souls will certainly find their reflection in this film – each piece by piece.