Hipsters (2008)
"Stilyagi" (original title)

Young people struggle to do things their way in the 1950s.

Director:

Valeriy Todorovskiy

Writers:

Yuriy Korotkov, Valeriy Todorovskiy (libretto)

Stars:

Anton Shagin, Oksana Akinshina, Eugenia Khirivskaya

21 wins & 9 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Anton Shagin	...	Mels
Oksana Akinshina	...	Polza
Eugenia Khirivskaya	...	Katya (as Evgeniya Brik)
Maksim Matveyev	...	Fred (as Maksim Matveev)
Igor Voynarovskiy	...	Bob
Ekaterina Vilkova	...	Betsi
Konstantin Balakirev	...	Dryn
Aleksandr Stefantsov	...	Nolik
Georgiy Sivokhin	...	Kim
Olga Smirnova	...	Sherri
Yanina Buiko	...	Liza
Irina Rozanova	...	Mat Polzy
Sergey Garmash	...	Otets Melsa
Oleg Yankovskiy	...	Otets Freda
Aleksey Gorbunov	...	Labukh

Storyline

While the Cold War heats up on the world stage, rebellious youth in 1955 Moscow wage a cultural battle against dismal Soviet conformity, donning brightly colored black-market clothing, adopting American nicknames and reveling in forbidden jazz. Straight-laced 20-year-old Communist Mels finds these brazen 'hipsters' shocking until he falls under the spell of one, namely Polly, and joins the new revolution. Soon he's a peacock, cavorting in the latest flashy fashions, sporting an enormous pompadour and wailing on the saxophone.

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Plot Keywords:

1950s | youth | conformity | dance | virgin | 

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Taglines:

Moscow 1955. Hot Jazz Meets Cold War.

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Genres:

Drama | Musical | Romance

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Details

Official Sites:

Official site [ru]

Country:

Russia

Language:

Russian

Release Date:

October 2011 (USA)

Also Known As:

Boogie Bones

Filming Locations:

Avtovo Metro Station, St. Petersburg, Russia

Box Office

Budget:

$15,000,000 (estimated)

Company Credits

Production Co:

Krasnaya Strela

Technical Specs

Runtime:

130 min 130 min (Director's Cut) 115 min (theatrical)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital EX

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.35 : 1

Did You Know?

Trivia

Bob's name (Boris Moiseevich) is a joking reference to Boris Moiseev whose image is rather comic for Russian public.

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Quotes

Katya: You're worse than an enemy, Mels. You're a traitor.

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Soundtracks

"Emu ne nuzhna amerikanskaya zhena"
("He Doesn't Need an American Wife")
Music by Kolibri
Words by Konstantin Meladze
Arrangement by Konstantin Meladze
Performed by VIA Gra
Courtesy of VIA Entertainment

User Reviews

Seattle International Film Festival Viewing

This film was such fun! In addition to being a most entertaining film it was so creatively filmed. The colors are wonderful, the locations believable, the music was hip and the dancing spectacular. The director was present at this Seattle Film Festival screening and took questions from the audience which made it even more interesting. I have never seen a Russian film so to hear the language and see the talented cast, it was amazing. I hope it is distributed widely and soon in the USA. I think it's time we as Americans see something other than ballet and classical music from Russia. I wouldn't be surprised to find young people in the USA emulating the "Hipsters" style of dress, Goth and Punk are so yesterday and I'm so tired of seeing everyone in jeans, t-shirts and sweat shirts!