My wife and I have been exploring film from various times and places. She tends to prefer actiony/adventury films that aren’t bleak while I am insufferable and maudlin, adoring self indulgent wallowing moodiness.
She found the rate of cuts of man with a movie camera too offputting, and has ruled out stalker because it’s relentlessly depressing. Aside from dead season which isn’t good but is funny because of history, and come and see which I wont be traumatising her with I don’t know any soviet film. You weirdos might.
Any recommendations for showing the best or most interesting of? Things that are either high quality or showcase a unique character due cultural differences. It can be weird!
Definitely a classic is “Solaris” (1972 film) by Andrei Tarkovsky. It has a mix of sci-fi and drama, but I can’t tell more without spoiling it. It definitely makes you think … Also other Tarkovsky films have been praised, like “Stalker” that you mentioned. So maybe check out his filmography?
Edit: Something completely different is “The Mystery of the Third Planet” (1981) by Roman Kachanov. It is an animated sci-fi film for children, but also fun to watch as an adult because of the absurd storyline and humour.
Other films I have in mind, too, but don’t remember their exact titles now. Will edit this post, if I recall … Edit: You might want to have a look at the Wikipedia list differentiating by age and/or genre: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cinema_of_the_Soviet_Union
Oh I love that book!