The Barber of Siberia (1998)

At the turn of the century, a young Russian cadet falls in love with an American beauty, endangering his career and even their lives.

Director:

Nikita Mikhalkov

Writers:

Nikita Mikhalkov (story), Rustam Ibragimbekov (screenplay)

Stars:

Julia Ormond, Oleg Menshikov, Aleksey Petrenko

1 win & 4 nominations.

Cast

Cast overview, first billed only:
Julia Ormond	...	Dzheyn (as Dzhuliya Ormond)
Oleg Menshikov	...	Andrey Alekseevich Tolstoy / Andrew McCraken
Aleksey Petrenko	...	Gen. Nikolai Karlovich Radlov
Richard Harris	...	Douglas McCraken (as Richard Kharris)
Vladimir Ilin	...	Cpt. Pavel Timofeevich Mokin
Marat Basharov	...	Polievskiy
Nikita Tatarenkov	...	Alibekov
Georgiy Dronov	...	Nazarov
Artyom Mikhalkov	...	Buturlin
Daniel Olbrychski	...	Kopnowski (as Daniel Olbrykhskiy)
Marina Neyolova	...	Tolsty's mat
Avangard Leontev	...	Dyadya Nikolya
Anna Mikhalkova	...	Dunyasha
Robert Hardy	...	Forsten (as Robert Khardi)
Elizabeth Spriggs	...	Perepelkina (as Elizabet Spriggs)

Storyline

Douglas is a foreign entrepreneur, who ventures to Russia in 1885 with dreams of selling a new, experimental steam-driven timber harvester in the wilds of Siberia. Jane is his assistant, who falls in love with a young Russian officer, André, and spends the next ten years perfecting the harvester, and pursuing her love, who has been exiled to Siberia.

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Plot Keywords:

russia | siberia | cadet | imperial russia | foreign woman | 

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Taglines:

He's Russian. That explains a lot.

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Genres:

Comedy | Drama | History | Romance

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Did You Know?

Trivia

For many years, the movie held the title of the most expensive Russian movie ever made. It was beaten by Dark Planet (2009), which in turn was beaten by another movie by Nikita Mikhalkov, Burnt by the Sun 2 (2010).

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Goofs

In a scene which takes place in 1905, a US flag is seen with 50 stars. The correct flag would have 45 Stars.

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Quotes

Dzheyn: I'm one of those women your mother must have warned you about.

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Connections

Referenced in Vdud: Anton Dolin (2020)

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Soundtracks

Piano Concerto no. 23
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart

User Reviews

Do you know why the film has not been released in the USA?

Do you know why "The Barber of Siberia" has not been released in the USA? After watching the film, the committee, which approves the foreign films for being released at the American movie theatres, said: "It's impossible for an American sergeant not to know who was Mozart! The film reveals the American officers as morons, so it is not suitable the film to be shown at the theatres". That's the explanation, which Nikita Mikhalkov gave by himself for the lack of releasing of "The Barber of Siberia" in the USA during his guesting of a popular Bulgarian talk-show. That reminds me of a line from the RAMMSTEIN's famous song called "Amerika": "Die Freiheit spielt auf allen Geigen..." In English:"The Freedom is playing at all violins..." (the song aims to show the "freedom" and the "non-censorship" in the USA) By the way the broadcasting of that song at any American television is forbidden.

Details

Country:

Russia France Italy Czech Republic

Language:

Russian English French German

Release Date:

20 February 1999 (Russia)

Also Known As:

The Barber of Siberia

Filming Locations:

Aldeia do Meco, Sesimbra, Setúbal, Portugal

Box Office

Budget:

$35,000,000 (estimated)

Cumulative Worldwide Gross:

$2,634,218

Company Credits

Production Co:

Studio Trite, Caméra One, France 2 Cinéma

Technical Specs

Runtime:

180 min 275 min (TV)

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

2.39 : 1