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Virtual Macedonia Bookstore - The Great Water
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List Price: $19.95
Our Price: $9.99
Your Save: $ 9.96 ( 50% )
Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours
Manufacturer: Picture This! Entertainment
Starring: Mitko Apostolovski, Marina Cakalova, Goce Deskoski, Vladimir Endrovski, Risto Gogovski
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Average Customer Rating:  
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Aspect Ratio: 2.35:1
Audience Rating: Unrated
Binding: DVD
EAN: 9781893410800
Format: Closed-captioned
ISBN: 1893410803
Label: Picture This! Entertainment
Manufacturer: Picture This! Entertainment
Number Of Items: 2
Publisher: Picture This! Entertainment
Region Code: 1
Release Date: 2005-11-22
Running Time: 90
Studio: Picture This! Entertainment
Theatrical Release Date: 2004
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Spotlight customer reviews:
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Customer Rating:
Summary: Last laugh . . .
Comment: The literary origin of this story accounts for the complexity of its moods, which range from grim to farcical to magical realism. Viewers who focus on only the cruel existence of children kept as political prisoners in post-war Stalinist Macedonia (part of the former Yugoslavia) neglect to recall the episode of the Missing Gym Shorts and the absurdities of a visit by a one-armed, one-eyed, and libidinous officer of the Yugoslav Army. A life-size bust of Joseph Stalin elicits an absurdly ardorous response from a devoted follower. Meanwhile, a young orphan exerts a mysterious power over members of the orphanage staff.
You can be depressed by this film if you ignore all this, but the author and filmmaker are obviously having a last laugh at the expense of those who believed wholeheartedly in the Soviet Dream. The film cross cuts between the modern-day central character as he lies stricken in a hospital bed and the same character as a young boy in the orphanage, some 60 years earlier. The performances of the child actors are wonderfully convincing, sometimes haunting, and the photography and music are expertly done. Definitely worth watching for what it has to say about the impermanence of political and social systems and the tenacity of the human spirit.
Customer Rating:
Summary: great movie with a few confusing parts
Comment: Through the eyes of a young child, this film shows what life is like in an orphanage during the Stalin-era when USSR controlled macedonia. But from time to time, I had some difficulties figuring things out... such as who was Isaac exactly? What's with his magical power? What about the principal? Quite a few things were not clear - maybe something was lost in the translation? or maybe something was implied and I had to be there to understand all? still a great movie.
Customer Rating:
Summary: Mildly disappointing, but worth watching
Comment: The english narration was uncomfortable to listen to. Forced is what one reviewer called it, and it's accurate.
Several things in the film should have been clarified for some members of the audience -- why was a girl dealing with her menstrual period considered barbaric? What should she have done instead of using a pad, and why would or should she have required an advocate? An advocate for what?
It should perhaps have been retitled, as well. The Great Water makes no sense to those who do not understand Yugoslavian geography, and it doesn't work well as a symbol.
The film was too slow, and I HATED the scene where they tortured the cat. Calling Isaak "big man" didn't match his appearance and seemed foolish.
There wasn't much dialogue or action -- it's basically narration with moving pictures.
Still, it brings back memories to those of us who remember Tito, the Iron Curtain, etc.
Customer Rating:
Summary: name makes no sense but good movie
Comment: I liked the movie and the lessons. Harsh in places but definately recommend it. Don't worship God, worship anything stalin. Sad sad sad,
Great acting!
Customer Rating:
Summary: Thought provoking film (a warning in this review)
Comment: This film is an arresting depiction of just why communism fails - people by nature, attempt to get the biggest slice of the pie for themselves, rather than working for the common good. There is a palpable juxtaposition between the "good Stalinist" orphanage staff, who are invariably self-serving, selfish and non-community minded and the "bad Stalinist" orphans, Lem and Isaak who actually show the most community spirit and sense of sacrifice for the good of the collective that is supposed to be central to communism.
The children in this movie shine. They have little dialogue, but their performances are memorable. The film sometimes sacrifices coherency for being arty, and there is a feeling that some things that are not made clear are left that way because that is how a child would have comprehended them. Well worth watching and pondering over.
Warning - there is a very disturbing scene where a cat is tortured by a sadistic guard, as well as many scenes where children are physically, emotionally and sexually abused. The film is not particularly graphic, but is very powerful in the implications of abuse.
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