Forty Shades of Blue [DVD] [2006] [Region 1] [US Import] [NTSC]

Forty Shades of Blue (2005) by Ira Sachs; winner of the Grand Jury Prize at Sundown 2005. It is the story of the relationship between a young Russian woman living in Memphis with a much older rock-'n'-roll legend. When the estranged son visits his father things start to unroll. It is almost worthwhile to see the film three times and focus on one of these three characters. The Russian woman had her reasons to follow along with him, but a more gripping portrait of alienation and loneliness might be hard to find. The rock legend is a man convinced of his own importance who has lost heart-to-heart communication with everyone and everything and has grown incapable of human emotion. The son understands her alienation and can identify with her loneliness as the son of an emotionally handicapped father. These are complex characters in a distinctive, artistic film.

Set in Memphis, where the worlds of black & white music meet, `Forty Shades...' is about a complicated love triangle , family estrangement (between a father & a son from an earlier marriage), resentment, renunciation as well as a desire not to repeat the past.The film is framed by three social gatherings that feature each of the three main characters in a drunken, unhappy state. It begins with Alan (Rip Torn), a famous musician, feted by his peers and with a much younger trophy Russian girlfriend, Laura (Dina Korzun). Into this mix, returns Michael (Darren Burrows), a son from Alan's previous marriage, an aspiring writer who has just split up from his girlfriend.Laura is lonely (she gets drunk at the first gathering) whilst Alan is selfish & unfaithful. Gradually, Laura and Michael are inevitably drawn to each other after she reads some of Michael's work. Michael, in turn, wonders how Laura can tolerate life with his selfish father; Laura answers that `she just keeps going' and this line later reverberates (like a chord) at the end of the film.A subtle, well-structured and moving film about relationships, it reminded me of classics like `Five Easy Pieces', mood pieces about family relationships and individuals; `Forty Shades' is a poignant film without being sentimental, more emotionally truthful about life than your average film by refusing to tie-up things into a neatly packaged resolution. Like a powerful short story, you know the lives of the characters and the relationships between them have changed irrevocably, and like a good story, you also wonder what will happen to these characters after the film has ended.*The film is apparently based on Satyajit Ray's 'Charulata', itself inspired by a story by Tagore.

Brilliant.A must see movie.A heartbreaking romancewhere a beautiful woman istreated as a mere object,left lost, isolated and alone in a crowd.Beautifully captured by the camera.Sensationally acted by Dina Korzun and Rip Torn.The attention to detail is amazing.The camera angles, objects and gifts,and the haunting theme music of the lead character,make every moment priceless.The single tear that flowsis a more powerful momentthan any Hollywood blockbuster can give.Get off the phone Rip before its too late!Prepare to be deeply moved.

This film may not cover any original ground, but it is a careful and perceptive piece of cinema.Rip Torn plays Alan, the larger than life, wealthy, philandering record producer, who lives with intelligent, beautiful young wife and their child. The arrival of his adult son, Michael, lays bare the faultlines in all their relationships.Dina Korzun gives a brilliant performance, of both vulnerability and steel, as the lonely Russian trophy wife, looked on as mere decoration by all Alan's friends and associates.Rip Torn is equally good, as the blustering, passionate, selfish middle aged man, too wrapped up in himself to see what is happening around him.This is an honest film, with characters that make you feel uncomfortable about their choices, but it is all the more real for that.Definitely worth a look.

This is an enjoyable and well made indie drama about a Russian translator stuck in a loveless marriage to a older man who is a wealthy and highly respected record producer.It's quite a sad film especially scenes where Laura is questioned about her unhappy life and she answers "I have no right to complain", knowing she could be living the same unhappy life in Russia.The acting is top notch especially Dina Korzun, who despite some of her actions makes Laura into a character which as a viewer you have incredible sympathy for, just wanting her to find happiness. If you like character based independent film then this is well worth a look.

"Forty Shades of Blue" has some outstanding qualities, but it is not a film that will please everyone, myself included. The acting is the best part of this serious film that is about people and relationships. An ageing record producer ,his Russian girlfriend and his estranged son form an unlikely love triangle which leads to some emotional and highly charged scenes in the film.Set against the background of the soul music industry ,I didn't think that "Forty Shades of Blue" warranted the extensive critical acclaim that it has received.