Total Balalaika Show (1994)

A 57 minute documentary of a Helsinki concert featuring the Leningrad Cowboys and the Alexandrov Red Army Choir and Ballet, who collaborate on a number of US Rock songs sung in English (... See full summary »

Director:

Aki Kaurismäki

Writer:

Aki Kaurismäki

Stars:

Alexandrov Red Army Ensemble, Atte Blom, Twist-Twist Erkinharju

Cast

Credited cast:
Alexandrov Red Army Ensemble	...	Choir
Atte Blom	...	Himself
Twist-Twist Erkinharju	...	Leningrad Cowboys
Ben Granfelt	...	Leningrad Cowboys
Sakke Järvenpää	...	Lead singer
Sakari Kuosmanen	...	Himself / Performer
Jore Marjaranta	...	Leningrad Cowboys
Ekke Niiva	...	Leningrad Cowboys
Pemo Ojala	...	Leningrad Cowboys
Silu Seppälä	...	Leningrad Cowboys
Mauri Sumén	...	Leningrad Cowboys
Kirsi Tykkyläinen	...	Herself / Performer
Mato Valtonen	...	Leningrad Cowboys

Storyline

A 57 minute documentary of a Helsinki concert featuring the Leningrad Cowboys and the Alexandrov Red Army Choir and Ballet, who collaborate on a number of US Rock songs sung in English (like "Sweet Home, Alabama") as well as more traditional Russian songs like the "Volga Boatman".

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Plot Keywords:

choir | leningrad cowboys | pop culture | concert film | helsinki finland | 

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Genres:

Documentary | Music

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Details

Official Sites:

Producer's page

Country:

Finland

Language:

Finnish English French Russian

Release Date:

2 July 1994 (Finland)

Also Known As:

Puna-armeijan kuoro ja Leningrad Cowboys

Filming Locations:

Moscow, Russia

Company Credits

Production Co:

Provisual, Sputnik

Technical Specs

Runtime:

54 min

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1

Did You Know?

Connections

Follows Leningrad Cowboys Meet Moses (1994)

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Soundtracks

"Let's Work Together"
Composed by Wilbert Harrison
Lyrics by Wilbert Harrison
Performed by Leningrad Cowboys and Alexandrov Red Army Ensemble

User Reviews

Surreal experience

The Red Army Choir performing "Happy Together" with a Finnish band called the Leningrad Cowboys? To top it, even singing "Finlandia" at Helsinki's Senate Square? This concert, filmed in 1993, would have seemed rather unthinkable a few years earlier. It's still a surreal experience to watch it on DVD: the Russian choir and orchestra in stiff uniforms, bearing a mostly somber expression combined with the ludicrously styled, eccentric Leningrad Cowboys and their often parodistic rock demeanour. Remembering the time of Cold War, it is also strangely touching. But what about the music? Well, I have to say that it's not bad at all. Quite the contrary, it's surprisingly good. The Red Army Choir's unnamed lead singer does impressive work together with the Cowboys, and I'm sure that the popular Russian songs sound exactly as they should, although the selection can't be called particularly original (neither the choice of Western songs), but that was probably exactly the right decision for a concert of this kind. It's energetic and in its incomparable blend of silliness and really serious musicianship (on both "sides") something to behold, indeed.