White Sun of the Desert

Less Spaghetti Western, more Pelmeni Eastern, this Soviet classic captures the faraway feeling of the Turkmen desert and ancient civilisations, while featuring cartoonish characters and a plot that feels like a Tintin adventure. I must admit I didn't know what to make of the nonchalant, invincible hero Comrade Sukhov or his vicious nemesis Abdullah. The story feels rough around the edges, yet has its iconic moments. It's like a matinee indulgence - an Indiana Jones for post-war Soviet youth.

A quintessential "ostern" by reputation, it's decent but not really a good film. The Asian desert locations provide for some fetching visuals, and the use of some extreme longshots and closeups and a thinly humorous tone indicates influence by spaghetti westerns. On the other hand, the action scenes are choppy and the film becomes a drag by the final shootout. My favorite element, perhaps the most original in the film, is the harem girl subplot.

The saddest action-comedy of all time. A confusingly uneven tone leads to a bizarre mix of campy comedy with sudden moments of heartstring-pulling drama. The action sequences may be gratingly poor, but there's a charm to this movie. Maybe its the Clint Eastwood-like lead, maybe its the weirdly arresting shots of stoic elders and gorgeous desert landscapes, but there's something here that keeps this flick a level above a Soviet Indiana-Jones-cum-spaghetti-Western.

THE Soviet Western, apparently. Set during the aftermath of the civil war in some unnamed Central Asian republic, a lone Red Guard soldier comes up against a gang of marauders trying to rob an ancient city. More Ford than Leone despite the bright colours and the blazing sun, and apart from some half-hearted political commentary, it really plays the Lone Good Hero trope nicely. Not a masterpiece, but definitely has more to offer than just the novelty of being, well, a Soviet Western.

The desert is the real star, absolutely beautiful. Good mix of action and Soviet nostalgia.

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O Sol Branco do Deserto estreava há 50 anos na União Soviética. Isso aqui é como se fosse o Mad Max Fury Road como western spaghetti soviético, parece estranho, mas dá super certo. BlurayRip no MakingOff.

Depicts Turkmenian people as lower to russians. Depicts USSR and russian empire as good while they enforce their rule in Turkmenistan by killing the Turkmenians who oppose them.

An easy-watch Slavic adventure in the far East with a desert full of sand, oil, a villain guerrilla leader, a smallish harem and an everlasting homesick. And a row of old, wise men who don't talk but follow the hyperactive group for revenge. Some links to Spaghetti Western.

decent as far as Soviet comedies go. not as good as many say it is

Some minor issues with the editing, but a very recommendable Ostern with its fair share of action and comedic elements (although some of the humor escapes me). Excellent choice of location and soundtrack.

A little bit of everything and it does it all well. You get some comedy, some action, some tragedy and romance, all with a nice pace.