mfnmbessert-224-279128
'The Steamroller And The Violin' is a strange and bizarre film. Indeed, while I was watching it, I kept in mind the state of the world at that time when the film appeared, and the thing that I found most fascinating was being able to get a glimpse of every day Russian life during that time period. The filmmaking techniques are notable and the camera shots are very well-done.However, I was mostly just puzzled while watching 'The Steamroller And The Violin', mostly because nothing much really happens throughout the film. It is the story of an unlikely friendship between a young boy and a worker who he meets on the streets. The final shot of the film is of the little boy chasing the steamroller and jumping on back as they slowly trudge off into the sunset. There isn't really any moral value to this film in much respect. There is a little bit of anti-bullying material here, but other times the film just feels like a bunch of well photographed scenes of bizarreness a la films like Alejandro Jodorowsky's 'The Holy Mountain' from 1973. At times the film made me think of other oddities like 'Koyaanisqatsi', which also wouldn't appear until another twenty years, but 'The Steamroller And The Violin' is a much more linear tale than films like those two.Overall, a well-made, strange, and bizarre piece of obscure Russian cinema yet again stands the test of time.THE STEAMROLLER AND THE VIOLIN -----8/10.
Ben Parker
The central conflict of this four-reeler is that the little boy's mother prefers him to maintain interest in his violin, but his new friend encourages him to be more interested in a steamroller. Its the old conflict between high pursuits and simple pleasures, or art vs working function. The little boy, of course, would like to have his cake and eat it too.The images are Tarkovsky, but the plot is de Sica. In his film school graduation film, the young Tarkovsky goes for beauty through simplicity - which according to John Ford was another word for sentiment.This is mainly of value for the few pretty pictures it contains - but those few pictures are pretty pretty - so that value is fairly high. The images of the steamroller reflected in the pond, and the water dropping in it, are very fine indeed. As is the shot where the carcas of an old building is knocked down by a wrecking ball in the foreground, to reveal a brand a brand new building in the background, in its place in the frame. The final sequence is also nice.Then again, you could just run a google image search for the film and you'll come up with some screen-captures from the film which will provide you with the same enjoyment - but with much less trouble (this is a definire rarity).2/5. Looks nice, but not very deep.
Gary-The King-Tooze
Strongly recommended. Tarkovsky initial work showing multiple glimpses of his genius. This short film has great depth and detail. Personally it is was the only Tarkovsky film that I had not seen, and now that I have I rate it very highly. In retrospect to his ouvre it may be strong to use the term "masterpiece", but regardless it is so. It is also probably the most accessible for viewers not familiar with his work and could prove as a perfect introduction. I urge you to see it.
LE020
A foreshadow of things to come, which in its own right is a little-known jewel of Russian and world cinema...I would advise any beginning Tarkosvskologist to view this film twice: before and after viewing his masterpieces. Then, they'll understand...
AD
