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33 out of 35 people found the following comment useful :-
An amazing and highly enjoyable movie, 7 August 2002
Author: Max-206 from Denver, CO

This is a great film.

First of all it's a great story that combines elements of subtle satire, romance, and at times laugh-outloud comedy into a farcical love triangle.

Second is the great acting. Andrei Myagkov simply delivers a character who undergoes significant, yet somehow believable transformation from a shy, nerdy young doctor to a bold, at times arrogant, yet at the same time romantic man. A great comic performance by Yuri Yakovlev, as the jealous fiance of the heroine, alone makes the film worth watching, to the last moments.

The 3rd element is the music and poetry. The songs are an important part of narration, not just there for a backdrop. The song lyrics and the poetry are by some of the most prominent Russian poets of the Silver Age and are just plain beautiful. In short this an amazing film, one of those that can be watched over and over.

Finally, if you don't speak Russian, check this film on DVD(NTSC). I recently got it and was very impressed by the quality of translation offered by the subtitles, which provide translation of the songs as well as the dialogue.

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28 out of 29 people found the following comment useful :-
Classics of soviet comedy. Ryazanov's best, 10 August 2000
10/10
Author: Roman Fedossev (rfed@mail.ru) from Moscow, Russia

*** This comment may contain spoilers ***

It's strange that I haven't found any comments from Russia or ex-USSR countries. This movie is one of the best Ryazanov's works, although all his films are great and loved very much in Russia. This one has became a traditional part of TV program on the New Year's Eve. Every year on the 31st of December it's on this or that channel. The people would watch it over and over with pleasure and unceasing affection. A lot of phrases and scenes are learned by heart, some of them became aphorisms.

The basis of the plot is rather funny. One guy gets drunk together with his friends and by mistake takes his friend's flight to Leningrad. It turns out then, that in Leningrad there exists the same address as his in Moscow. Moreover, the tenements are identical and even the key fits to the apartment door. Here starts the real fun, then the drama emerges out of the comedy, gradually growing and replacing the fun. Perhaps, it's the perfect and fine balance between comedy and drama, and the accurate development and transformation of one genre into the other which wouldn't make one bored with this movie and would make him wish to watch it again and again.

I would recommend to non-russian spectators other Ryazanov's movies as well and also those of Gaidai made in 60's and 70's.

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28 out of 29 people found the following comment useful :-
True love is never accidental, 25 February 2000
10/10
Author: atolstoy from London, England

I've been told that this film is shown every New Year's Eve in Russia, and there is no doubt why. It is exquisitely romantic, appropriately funny and symbolizes the best of Russia. It's sentimentally touches a heart string in everyone and its seeming lack of reality only makes it more realistic. With a fantastic soundtrack and some beautiful poetry, you truly have not seen a good film until you have seen this. I could watch it again and again and.....

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21 out of 22 people found the following comment useful :-
Truly wonderful, and with universal appeal, 4 January 2006
10/10
Author: Witold Brostow from Denton, Texas

Let me sort out what in this film is Soviet, what is Russian, and what is universal.

Soviet is the background, including the cartoon which precedes the appearance of humans: a man with a tube kills any architect originality, even so innocent as balconies. As a consequence, the same buildings are put up in Artica as well in a southern desert before surprised camels. The Soviet reality is the basis of the plot with identical buildings in different cities. Also the New Year tree rather that the Christmas tree is Soviet. However, as the story unfolds, the Soviet reality recedes into little visible background. An exception is a line in one of the songs: if you do not have a dog, your neighbor cannot poison your dog.

Russian are the beautiful poems which are made into songs. There are also some views of Leningrad, but actually only a few, with the St. Isaac Basilica shown several times from different sides.

The cast and the technical crew are largely Russian, but not only. Obviously Armenian, Georgian and Jewish names are listed. The actress playing Nadya has been imported from Central Europe; Barbara Brylska is a Polish actress, well known also from a number of other movies made in Poland as well as in other countries.

The appeal of the film is truly universal ! This is the reason why viewers from countries so disparate as Latvia, Ukraine and China like this film so much (not to mention Texans). The love-jealousy quadrangle, two mothers, friends of Zhenya and colleagues of Nadya could have lived in many countries around the world. Even the story of the same address could have happened for instance in Germany where practically every city and town has Bahnhofstrasse and Poststrasse.

Finally, the atmosphere of this film is unique - a word which very rarely can be used discussing films. We have seen other films directed by Eldar Ryazanov, all of them good, but none comparable to this one. All that takes place in the film is plausible, it could have happened in reality. At the same time, there is the feeling of poetic, unreal and sublime. These two basically opposed reactions to the film coexist somehow in the viewer; this simply does not happen in movies, films directed by Krzysztof Kieslowski excepted. Irony of the Fate is a truly wonderful film, alive 30 years after being created; it will enchant future generations as well.

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23 out of 26 people found the following comment useful :-
Russians show you their sense of humor and love, 5 January 2004
8/10
Author: barry_yu from Shanghai China

I major in Russian. And my teacher showed the movie in class. I love it very much. Eldar Ryazanov is famous in China. We grow up watching his movies. This is absolutely one of his best. Eldar Ryazanov is good at making comedy-drama. This is a must-see if you are interested in the culture and art of Russia (USSR as well). This film is quite long but no boring at all. You would laugh and truly admire the acting skill of Andrei Myagkov when he is tearing up the photo of the fiance of the girl---Naja. He is the best ever actor I have ever seen. This film provided much space for him to show us his acting skill and he did it perfectly. Watch it and have fun = )

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14 out of 14 people found the following comment useful :-
Wonderful love-story/comedy., 5 October 1999
10/10
Author: amlover (tav9z@yahoo.com) from Monterey, California, USA

Okay, so I'm in love with Andrey Mjagkov, but all that aside, you've simply gotta love this movie. It's funny, it makes you feel good. Somewhat far-fetched plot (I won't give it away, just go watch it), but the acting is great, the directing is great, the music is great, the singing is great. Unlike most Russian movies it does not leave you with a sense of impending doom and in a state of utter depression. It will leave you with a whole new view of Russian film and Russian life (that's if you're not Russian and don't already have a very unique view). Watch it! Trust me!

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15 out of 17 people found the following comment useful :-
Perfect encapsulation of the Russian spirit.., 16 May 2005
10/10
Author: spaceblossom from Ukraine

I love this movie. I watch it every 31st December with my family, and when I'm feeling down, I will put it on (even in the Summer, despite the movie being about New Year's Eve) and it'll instantly make me feel better.

The film, however, most probably, wouldn't be understood by the average foreigner. Let me explain..

Zhenya and his friends have a tradition of going to the "banya" (like a public bathing place) as a tradition every 31st of December. The celebration of Zhenya's engagement leads to all four men getting completely drunk. The dilemma, however, is that one of these men has to fly to Leningrad to celebrate New Year's Eve with his wife. By mistake, they send Zhenya to Leningrad. Being completely blacked out, Zhenya does not remember the flight or him getting a taxi when already in Leningrad. Coinsidently, the street on which Zhenya lives in Moscow exists in Leningrad as well. Zhenya, barely able to walk, enters the apartment building and makes his way up onto the 4th floor and opens the door with his key, and, without hesitating, makes himself comfortable and falls asleep on what he thinks is his bed.

A few minutes later, Nadya, a beautiful Russian woman, enters this same apartment - only it is really hers. Naturally, she is shocked to find a drunk stranger asleep on her bed. And her fiancé, who arrives shortly after, isn't thrilled to see drunk Zhenya either. The chemistry between Nadya and Zhenya grows as events begin to unravel...

The average foreigner will probably ask - "How is it possible that the apartment building and the apartment itself is identical to the one in Moscow? How could he even open the door with his key?" In Soviet times, buildings were built almost identically. There was no individuality. Flats looked the same. The furniture was the same. And, by luck, the key matched perfectly as well, although not surprisingly.

Anyway, this is a brilliantly funny, at times sad, film. It is a must see to anyone who is at least mildly interested in Russian people, culture or just the Russian way of life.

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12 out of 12 people found the following comment useful :-
This is a lovely, funny film, every Russian's New Year's viewing, 9 March 1999
10/10
Author: yvonne-5 from Brussels, Belgium

If you didn't know that the Russians could do satire, you have to see this film, which is an irreverent look at all the mass-production and lack of individuality which went with the Communist system and which form the basis for the series of misunderstandings which would be impossible elsewhere. A genuine love story, loads of fun as well and the most stunning views of St Petersburg in the Winter. There's a lot of dialogue, so your Russian needs to be up to scratch if you see it in the original, and it's a long film but worth every minute.

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11 out of 11 people found the following comment useful :-
Every New Year's, me and my friends have a tradition..., 7 May 2000
Author: limelite50 from New York, USA

...we rent "S legkim parom!" and watch it. The film is on the long side, but it's perfect for New Year's Eve. I personally think this is a classic of Russian comedies. Very funny, and at the same time somewhat sad as well. The film has become legendary in Russia, so it might be a little hard for foreigners to understand, much like it's hard for people outside the US to understand all those Christmas films. It's great, though--every time I watch it, it just makes me think of the holidays and feel happy inside.

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12 out of 13 people found the following comment useful :-
Superb, 17 February 2006
10/10
Author: trionon07 from United Kingdom

This film has celebrated its 30th anniversary on this 2006 New Year Eve, and there was a special programme about the creation of the film, actors etc. Apparently, the whole country (then USSR) watched it when it was first shown in 1976, and they wanted to see if the rating would be the same 30 years later. I have to say, I have been watching this film religiously since early teens every New Year and when I moved to live in the UK, the video recording of "Ironiya" was one of the essential items I brought with me. It's one of those films that I can watch over and over again, instant mood lifter, and I just can't imagine my New Year day / eve without it, and a bottle of "Soviet" champagne, and Russian salad, and the proverbial Jellied fish that Ippolit referred to as "muck" (I think the closest translation I can think of). On my way back from Moscow to London in Janaury, I tried to purchase a DVD copy in the airport but was told by the assistant that they are permanently sold out!!!

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