TRUDNO BYT' BOGOM

(vt Hard To Be a God) Film (1989). Dovzhenko Studio/Halleluya Film GMBH/VO Sovexportfilm. Dir Peter Fleischmann, starring Edward Dzentara, Ann Gautier, Christina Kaufmann, Alexander Filippenko, Andrei Boltnev, Mikhail Gluzsky, Werner Herzog. Screenplay Fleischmann, Jean-Claude Carriere, Dal Orlov, based on Trudno byt' bogom (1964; trans as Hard to be a God 1973 US) by Arkady and Boris STRUGATSKI. 120 mins. Colour.

   The most ambitious Soviet sf film to date, this Soviet/West German coproduction was 4 years in the making, and even so seems unfinished. Gorgeous sets, a goodstory (combining medieval swordfighting and futuristic starships) and a distinguished international cast did, however, ensure its success in European cinemas. The Strugatskis' multilevelled moral drama has beensimplified to the level of pure action. The focus is court intrigue on an underdeveloped planet where a group of secret agents/investigators from a highly developed Earth witness the rise of a kind of medieval fascism, led by the local Hitler, Reba. The protagonist, Rumata, camouflaged as an indigenous nobleman, is not allowed to involve himself in the planet's politics; he is the historical observer who must not interfere with the experiment. However, he and his friends do attempt to save local intellectuals from pogroms and, when Reba's men kill the native girl with whom Rumata is in love, the Earthman humanist takes to the sword. A failure for Strugatski fans and for those who enjoy serious sf, but a feast for lovers of sword-and-bluster combat and a sentimental love story.

VG

   See also: RUSSIA.