{"id":3617,"date":"2012-08-21T08:00:05","date_gmt":"2012-08-21T08:00:05","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/?p=3617"},"modified":"2014-07-17T18:42:41","modified_gmt":"2014-07-17T18:42:41","slug":"ivan-the-fool-of-our-times","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/ivan-the-fool-of-our-times\/","title":{"rendered":"Ivan the Fool of Our Times"},"content":{"rendered":"

Today let\u2019s watch one of the best, most beloved Soviet comedies, The Diamond Arm<\/em>. Almost every single line uttered by the all-star cast became a source of one-liners, \u0430\u043d\u0435\u043a\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0442\u044b<\/strong> (jokes), \u043a\u0440\u044b\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u0435 \u0432\u044b\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u044f<\/strong> (catch phrases). The movie was so successful and entered \u0431\u044b\u0442<\/strong> (everyday life) so firmly, that it is still frequently quoted and referenced.<\/p>\n

The movie is about \u0431\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0434\u0430 \u043a\u043e\u043d\u0442\u0440\u0430\u0431\u0430\u043d\u0434\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e\u0432<\/strong> (a band of smugglers) trying to smuggle some \u0431\u0440\u0438\u043b\u043b\u0438\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0442\u044b<\/strong> (diamonds) into Soviet Union. To avoid attention from the \u041a\u0413\u0411<\/strong> (KGB) as well as save on \u0442\u0430\u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u0435\u043d\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u043f\u043e<\/span>\u0448\u043b\u0438\u043d\u044b<\/strong> (custom duties), they come up with a genius idea. One of them would fake \u043f\u0435\u0440\u0435\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u043c \u0440\u0443\u043a\u0438<\/span><\/strong> (a broken arm<\/a>) and hide the diamonds \u0432 \u0433\u0438<\/span>\u043f\u0441\u0435<\/strong> (in a cast).<\/p>\n

Sounds like a great plan, doesn\u2019t it? Except fate interferes, \u0432 \u043e<\/span>\u0431\u043b\u0438\u043a\u0435 \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u043e \u0441\u043e\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0433\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0434\u0430\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u043d\u0430 \u0421\u0435\u043c\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u0430 \u0421\u0435\u043c\u0451<\/span>\u043d\u043e\u0432\u0438\u0447\u0430 \u0413\u043e\u0440\u0431\u0443\u043d\u043a\u043e<\/span>\u0432\u0430<\/strong> (in a guise of a simple Soviet citizen Semyon Semyonovich Gorbunkov). Gorbunkov is fun to watch. He is this modern day \u0418\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0443\u0448\u043a\u0430-\u0434\u0443\u0440\u0430\u0447\u043e<\/span>\u043a<\/strong> (Ivan the Fool) of the fairy tales – \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043a\u00a0<\/strong>(a simpleton), \u043d\u0430\u0438<\/span>\u0432\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/strong> (naive), \u0434\u043e\u0431\u0440\u043e\u0434\u0443<\/span>\u0448\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/strong> (kind-hearted), \u0431\u0435\u0437 \u0437\u0430<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u0435\u0439 \u043c\u044b<\/span>\u0441\u043b\u0438<\/strong> (without a hidden agenda).<\/p>\n

One day, Mr. Gorbunkov gets to go on \u0443\u0432\u043b\u0435\u043a\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0435\u043b\u044c\u043d\u0435\u0439\u0448\u0435\u0435 \u043f\u0443\u0442\u0435\u0448\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0438\u0435<\/strong> (the most engaging trip), a cruise to be exact. He goes without his lovely wife and the kids since average families were not allowed to go abroad together for fear of defecting. Instead, the family would stay in the USSR as a sort of \u0437\u0430\u043b\u043e<\/span>\u0436\u043d\u0438\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (hostages).<\/p>\n

On board of the cruise ship Gorbunkov meets his suite mate, \u0413\u0435<\/span>\u0448\u0430 \u041a\u043e\u0437\u043e\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0435\u0432<\/strong> (Gesha Kozodoev). Gesha is just the opposite of Gorbunkov – \u043c\u043e\u043b\u043e\u0434\u043e<\/span>\u0439<\/strong> (young), \u043e\u0434\u0438\u043d\u043e<\/span>\u043a\u0438\u0439<\/strong> (single), \u043e\u0434\u0435<\/span>\u0442\u044b\u0439 \u043f\u043e \u043f\u043e\u0441\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u0435\u0439 \u0435\u0432\u0440\u043e\u043f\u0435<\/span>\u0439\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0439 \u043c\u043e<\/span>\u0434\u0435<\/strong> (dressed according to the latest European fashion), \u0431\u044b\u0432\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044b\u0439 \u043f\u0443\u0442\u0435\u0448\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0435\u043d\u043d\u0438\u043a<\/strong> (seasoned traveller). The two strike up an unlikely friendship. Yet, unbeknownst to Semyon Semyonich, Gesha is also a smuggler.<\/p>\n

Finally, the ship stops \u0432<\/strong> \u043f\u043e\u0441\u043b\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u0435\u043c \u0438\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u043e\u043c \u043f\u043e\u0440\u0442\u0443<\/span><\/strong> (at the last foreign port). That\u2019s when the plot thickens. But not until after the now-classic scene takes place. Semyon Semyonich, trying to take a picture, falls behind his tour group and is being dragged inside by \u0443<\/span>\u043b\u0438\u0447\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0434\u0435\u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0446\u0430<\/strong> (a prostitute). He doesn\u2019t have any idea what\u2019s going on (remember, officially prostitution did not exist in the USSR nor did sex) and what the girl wants from him and instead things she\u2019s asking him for help.<\/p>\n

http:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=PGbQ1xKII1Y<\/a><\/p>\n

Gesha rescues his friend, saying to the girl \u0431\u0435\u0441\u0441\u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0440\u0442\u043d\u0430\u044f \u0444\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0437\u0430<\/strong>\u00a0(the immortal phrase) \u201c\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043e \u0442\u0443\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u043e, \u043e<\/span>\u0431\u043b\u0438\u043a\u043e \u043c\u043e\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u0435!\u201d<\/strong> I am not sure if any of these words actually exist in any of the languages, but a speaker of Russian will undoubtedly understand that Gesha meant \u201c\u0432\u044b\u0441\u043e<\/span>\u043a\u0438\u0439 \u043c\u043e\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u043e<\/span>\u0431\u043b\u0438\u043a \u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0441\u0441\u043a\u043e\u0433\u043e \u0442\u0443\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0430\u201d<\/strong> (high morals of a Russian tourist).<\/p>\n

Finally, the organized tour is over and \u0442\u0443\u0440\u0438<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u044b<\/strong> are allowed to explore on their own. As Gesha tries to escape unnoticed to make it to the rendezvous, Gorbunkov catches up with him. Afraid to blow his cover, Gesha has no choice but to take Gorbunkov on a stroll as if nothing is going on. At the first opportunity Gesha \u0434\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u0430\u0435\u0442 \u043d\u043e<\/span>\u0433\u0438<\/strong> (slang: escapes) and promptly becomes lost. Gorbunkov also \u0442\u0435\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u0435\u0442\u0441\u044f<\/strong> (becomes lost), but somehow passes by the rendezvous point, slips on a watermelon rind, falls and exclaims \u0427\u0451\u0440\u0442 \u043f\u043e\u0431\u0435\u0440\u0438<\/span>!<\/strong> (darn it! lit: Devil take you!) which happens to be the password.<\/p>\n

Unconscious, he is whisked into the building and his arm is put in a cast laced with diamonds and other \u0446\u0435<\/span>\u043d\u043d\u043e\u0441\u0442\u0438<\/strong> (valuables). And by the time Gesha finds his way around, there\u2019s nothing left for him to smuggle. His only option is to stay close to Gorbunkov and try to get the diamonds while \u043b\u043e\u043f\u0443<\/span>\u0445 \u043d\u0438\u0447\u0435\u0433\u043e<\/span> \u043d\u0435 \u0437\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u0435<\/strong>\u0442 (the simpleton [Gorbunkov] doesn\u2019t know anything). At least Gesha thinks Gorbunkov doesn\u2019t suspect anything since Gorbunkov plays along with his \u043b\u0430\u043a\u043e\u043d\u0438<\/span>\u0447\u043d\u044b\u0439<\/strong> (brief, in a nutshell) account of the accident: \u043f\u043e\u0441\u043a\u043e\u043b\u044c\u0437\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u043b\u0441\u044f,\u00a0\u0443\u043f\u0430<\/span>\u043b, \u043f\u043e\u0442\u0435\u0440\u044f<\/span>\u043b \u0441\u043e\u0437\u043d\u0430<\/span>\u043d\u0438\u0435, \u043e\u0447\u043d\u0443<\/span>\u043b\u0441\u044f – \u0433\u0438\u043f\u0441<\/strong> (slipped, fell, became unconscious, came to in a cast).<\/p>\n

Ok, I\u2019m not going to do a play by play of the rest of the movie. Let\u2019s just say that our Ivan the Fool goes through \u0432\u043e\u0434\u0430<\/span>, \u043e\u0433\u043e<\/span>\u043d\u044c \u0438 \u043c\u0435<\/span>\u0434\u043d\u044b\u0435 \u0442\u0440\u0443<\/span>\u0431\u044b<\/strong> (serious ordeals, lit: water, fire and copper pipes) helping \u043e<\/span>\u0440\u0433\u0430\u043d\u044b<\/strong> (authorities) to catch the smugglers. Along the way he almost gets seduced, almost loses his family, almost gets \u043f\u044c\u044f<\/span>\u043d\u044b\u0439 \u0432 \u0441\u0442\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043a\u0443<\/strong> (wasted), almost finishes singing on stage, almost gives a lecture, almost becomes known as \u043d\u0435 \u043d\u0430\u0448 \u0447\u0435\u043b\u043e\u0432\u0435<\/span>\u043a<\/strong> (not one of us, an outsider) and almost<\/del> breaks his leg.<\/p>\n

In the mean time, Gesha is facing a different challenge. He has to deal with his partner in crime, \u041b\u0451<\/span>\u043b\u0435\u043a<\/strong> (Lyolek) who is a violent and rude type. Lyolek\u2019s threats, such as \u0431\u0443<\/span>\u0434\u0443 \u0431\u0438\u0442\u044c \u0430\u043a\u043a\u0443\u0440\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u043d\u043e, \u043d\u043e \u0441\u0438<\/span>\u043b\u044c\u043d\u043e<\/strong> (I will hit you carefully, but with force) and curses, \u0447\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u044b \u044f \u0442\u0435\u0431\u044f<\/span> \u0432\u0438<\/span>\u0434\u0435\u043b \u0432 \u0433\u0440\u043e\u0431\u0443<\/span> \u0432 \u0431\u0435<\/span>\u043b\u044b\u0445 \u0442\u0430<\/span>\u043f\u043a\u0430\u0445<\/strong> (I will see you laying in a coffin in white shoes) and \u0447\u0442\u043e<\/span>\u0431\u044b \u0442\u0435\u0431\u0435<\/span> \u0436\u0438\u0442\u044c \u043d\u0430 \u043e\u0434\u043d\u0443<\/span> \u0437\u0430\u0440\u043f\u043b\u0430<\/span>\u0442\u0443<\/strong> (curse you to live on a salary alone) have become classic. Aside from dealing with Lyolek, Gesha must survive a pair of malfunctioning \u0431\u0440\u044e<\/span>\u043a\u0438<\/strong> (trousers), a near-fatal fishing trip, a bar fight, an epic hangover, and a few other \u043f\u0440\u043e\u0438\u0441\u0448\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u0442\u0432\u0438\u044f<\/strong> (accidents).<\/p>\n

If this sounds interesting, then what are you waiting for? Start watching the movie on YouTube<\/a> today and \u00a0next time I\u2019ll teach you the highly awesome\u00a0\u041f\u0435<\/span>\u0441\u043d\u044f \u043f\u0440\u043e \u0437\u0430<\/span>\u0439\u0446\u0435\u0432<\/strong> (Song About Hares).<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Today let\u2019s watch one of the best, most beloved Soviet comedies, The Diamond Arm. Almost every single line uttered by the all-star cast became a source of one-liners, \u0430\u043d\u0435\u043a\u0434\u043e\u0442\u044b (jokes), \u043a\u0440\u044b\u043b\u0430\u0442\u044b\u0435 \u0432\u044b\u0440\u0430\u0436\u0435\u043d\u0438\u044f (catch phrases). The movie was so successful and entered \u0431\u044b\u0442 (everyday life) so firmly, that it is still frequently quoted and referenced. The…<\/p>\n

Continue Reading<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":39,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[3],"tags":[173127,173125,26812,252982,117620,252737],"class_list":["post-3617","post","type-post","status-publish","hentry","category-culture","tag-andrey-mironov","tag-diamond-arm","tag-russian-catch-phrases","tag-russian-comedy","tag-soviet-movies","tag-yuriy-nikulin"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3617","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/39"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3617"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3617\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11256,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3617\/revisions\/11256"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3617"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3617"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/russian\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3617"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}