Courier (Kurer)

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Dmitrijs P Karen Shakhnazarov’s “Courier” attempts to capture the disillusionment and rebellion of Soviet youth in the 1980s, but it often feels directionless and lacking depth. The protagonist, Ivan, is presented as a symbol of youthful apathy, but his character development is shallow, leaving the audience disconnected from his journey. While the film aims to critique societal norms and generational divides, its humor and satire often feel forced, diluting the potential for impactful commentary. The pacing drags in places, with scenes that seem to add little to the overall narrative. While the interactions between Ivan and his love interest, Katya, hint at the complexities of class and ambition, these themes are underexplored, leaving the film’s message muddled. Visually, the film’s cinematography captures the bleakness of its setting, but it does little to elevate the story. The over-reliance on quirkiness and aimless conversations may appeal to some, but it ultimately comes across as unfocused and self-indulgent. For viewers seeking a more nuanced exploration of Soviet-era youth, “Courier” might feel like a missed opportunity. Rated 0.5/5 Stars •  Rated 0.5 out of 5 stars 11/25/24 Full Review Audience Member The end of Communist start here Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/19/23 Full Review Audience Member While the music and fashion seem heavily dated (not even to mention the film quality), the Soviet black-comedy "The Courier" was way ahead of it's times in a lot of ways. America has fallen in love with the skinny, identity-crisis stricken white-guy (see: Wristcutters: A Love Story, Garden State, etc.), but "The Courier" is one of the earliest (and better) examples I can find. Main character Ivan is a compulsively lying high-school grad who finds himself battling nihilism while trying to figure out how to express his feelings. Working as a courier, the film follows Ivan's adventures courting a college girl, keeping his own lies straight, and finding balance for himself. It all sounds cheesy after dozens of "indie" films today, but the film is earnest in ways the modern "indie flicks" try and fail to pull off. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 02/20/23 Full Review Audience Member This ranks up there with Osennij Marafon (Autumn Marathon) in my (limited) exposure to Soviet comedies. Dunayevsky is superb as the apparently directionless, sarcastic, yet sweet Ivan. As is apparently common in this genre, the film veers from laugh-out-loud hilarious to absurd to gloomy (though not as dark as something like Rebro Adama [Adam's Rib] or Malenkaya Vera [Little Vera], also from the same period.) It is also a fascinating glimpse of youth culture in the perestroika period, and confronts some interesting questions about the relationship between the generations. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/21/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Courier (Kurer)

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