Skip to main content

Hipsters (2008)

Hipsters (2008) movie poster

Stilyagi is a 2008 Russian musical comedy-drama film directed by Valery Todorovsky. It won several Golden Eagle Awards and Nika Awards, including Best Film in both. In Russia, it has become a cult film, as most of its score consists of covers of 1980s and 1990s Russian rock music from bands such as Bravo, Nautilus Pompilius, Nol and the Red Elvises.

While the Cold War heats up on the world stage, rebellious youth in 1955 Moscow wage a cultural battle against dismal Soviet conformity, donning brightly colored black-market clothing, adopting American nicknames and reveling in forbidden jazz. Straight-laced 20-year-old Communist Mels finds these brazen 'hipsters' shocking until he falls under the spell of one, namely Polly, and joins the new revolution. Soon he's a peacock, cavorting in the latest flashy fashions, sporting an enormous pompadour and wailing on the saxophone.


K: Another Russian movie in our collection in a rare and kinda "dangerous" genre for big screen – musical. I’m not a big fan of that type of movie, but I decided to give a chance to “Stilyagi” and didn’t regret spending 2 hours in front of the screen. Valeri Todorovski made a really dynamic, bright and light movie. The plot can be easily read, there is no mystery to break your mind on. It's just a story about “golden” young people that existed in Soviet Russia from the late 1940s to early 1960s and they were very different from the “right” Komsomol people. It was the second time I watched this movie and, thanks to my dearest international friend Freddy, this time I really got into learning more about this young Soviet society.

F: You are right, Krasnaya. I also get bored very easily with musicals, but it wasn't the case this time. "Hipsters" is entertaining and fun! It has a nice flow, cool characters, great songs, and the insight it gives you into 50's Moscow society made me awake and curious. I'm lucky to have you near me, my dearest Russian friend, 'cause that way I was able to understand some cultural elements in the movie, like communal living, the Komsomols and so on...

Stilyagi Freda

K: The color of the movie changes from 50 shades of gray, which shows the “right” soviet people, to the tasty multi-color Stilyag’s style. The cast in this movie is really good, but I’d say I love the most the small roles played by well-known Russian actors; Sergey Garmash (Mels father), Oleg Yankovski (Fred’s father),Irina Rosanova (Polza’s mother) and Leonid Yarmolnik (Bob’s father). They get on for just a few minutes, but enough to give us some very vivid and funny moments. The young actors did a great job also, being my favorites Fred (Maxim Matveev) and Bob (Igor Voinarovski).

F: Yes, the moments with Sergey Garmash are my favorite ones also! I loved his song and the Komsomol one. This last one even got the hairs on my arm rising.

Sergey Garmash

K: The music consists mainly of cover songs from the 70's and 80's bands arranged with different lyrics. After several seconds, I just started singing with the characters and wanted to join them in the dance... hihi. So, resuming – I recommend this movie if you want to know more about Soviet Russia and wish to spend 2 pleasant hours with shinny colors and sounds; oh, by the way; about the costumes and decoration… another great job done here! Hipsters will make you smile and might surprise you sometimes. Not gonna spoil it; you just have to watch it!

F: I always get attracted to tales of non-conformism and rebellion. This film shows a very light side of the Stilyagi subculture. I bet there was a lot more repression in the form of violence done to these people back in post-Stalin-soviet Russia that's not shown in the movie. Anyway, I decided to do some research and have my Krasnaya friend translate some caricatures that I'm about to share with you below.

stilyagi subculture

Krasnaya score – 85/100
Freddy's score - 77/100

stilyagi caricature 1
stilyagi caricature 2
stilyagi caricature 3
stilyagi caricature 4
stilyagi caricature 5
stilyagi caricature 6
stilyagi caricature 7
stilyagi caricature 8

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

The Score (2001)

Plot Summary: Nick Wells, a veteran safe-cracker ready to retire and settle with his girlfriend Diane, is pulled into one last heist by his fence Max. Partnered with ambitious thief Jack Teller, they aim to steal a priceless French scepter from the Montreal Customs House, facing tension, trust issues, and betrayal. Director: Frank Oz Producers: Gary Foster, Lee Rich Screenplay: Kario Salem (story and screenplay), Daniel E. Taylor (story), Lem Dobbs, Scott Marshall Smith Starring: Robert De Niro as  Nick Wells Edward Norton as Jack Teller/Brian Marlon Brando as Max,  Angela Bassett as Diane   ***SPOILER ALERT*** A Heist Worth the Hype Finally got around to continuing my Frank Oz film journey, and tonight’s pick was The Score. A two-hour-and-forty-minute heist flick that I had been saving for when I had some serious s...

Straw (2025)

Plot Summary: Janiyah Wiltkinson (Taraji P. Henson), a desperate single mother of a seriously ill daughter, spirals through eviction, job loss, and tragedy in one catastrophic day. In a last-ditch attempt to get medicine, she starts a bank standoff — but a shocking twist reveals her daughter actually died hours earlier, and Janiyah has been dissociating from reality. Eventually, with support from a bank manager and detective, she surrenders peacefully amid growing public sympathy. Director & Writer: Tyler Perry Producer(s): Tyler Perry Cinematography: Justyn Moro Music: Dara Taylor Editing: Nick Coker Cast: Taraji P. Henson as Janiyah Wiltkinson Sherri Shepherd as Nicole (bank manager) Teyana Taylor as Detective Raymond Sinbad as Benny Glynn Turman as Richard (Janiyah’s boss) Rockmond Dunbar as Chief Wilson Ashley Versher as Tessa  ...

10 Lives (2024)

Plot Summary: Beckett, a spoiled and selfish housecat, takes his nine lives for granted. After recklessly losing his final life, he is granted ten more—but with a catch. Director: Chris Jenkins Producers: Karen Wengrod, Ken Cinnamon, Ash Brannon, Ernesto Matamoros, Leland Cox Screenplay: Chris Jenkins, Karen Wengrod, Ken Cinnamon Starring: Mo Gilligan as Beckett Simone Ashley as Rose Ashley Sophie Okonedo as Grace Zayn Malik as Kirk and Cameron Dylan Llewellyn as Larry Llewellyn Jeremy Swift as Happy Bill Nighy as Professor Richard Craven   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Nine Lives Too Many Saturday afternoon with 10 Lives, directed by Christopher Jenkins. Jenkins has been in animation since at least 1988, starting as an effects animator on Who Framed Roger Rabbit. Now he brings us this 2024 film about Beckett, a selfish cat who loses his las...

King of the Children (1987)

Plot Summary: Set during China's Cultural Revolution, The King of Children tells the story of Lao Gan, an educated youth sent to a remote village in the Yunnan-Guizhou region to work as a teacher. Director: Chen Kaige Producers: Xi'An Film Studio Screenplay: Adapted from Ah Cheng's novella with the same name Starring: Xie Yuan as Lao Gan Chen Shaohua as Principal Chen Yang Xuewen as Wang Fu   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Jumping Into Chinese Cinema Blindfolded Hey everyone. So, back in January, the internet had a little moment, and suddenly, millions of Americans rushed to a Chinese social media app called Red Note. I got curious, joined in, and ended up discovering a whole new world of culture thanks to some incredibly welcoming Chinese users. Naturally, I decided to ask for movie recommendations, and wow, they flooded in. But despite all the amazing suggestion...

Echo Valley (2025)

Plot Summary: Grieving widow Kate Garrett (J. Moore) struggles to keep her Pennsylvania horse farm afloat after losing her wife. When her estranged, drug-addicted daughter Claire (S. Sweeney) returns bloodied and in distress, a gripping thriller unfolds as Kate fights to protect her child, confronting escalating danger, moral dilemmas, and the lengths a mother will go to save her kids. Director: Michael Pearce Screenplay: Brad Ingelsby Producers: Brad Ingelsby, Ridley Scott, Michael Pruss, Kevin J. Walsh Music: Jed Kurzel Cinematography: Benjamin Kračun Starring: Julianne Moore as Kate Garrett Sydney Sweeney as Claire Garrett Domhnall Gleeson as Jackie Kyle MacLachlan as Richard Garrett Fiona Shaw as Jessie Oliver Edmund Donovan as Ryan   ***SPOILER ALERT*** Cheese, Wine and Echo Valley Alright, so picture this. It’s a ...

Deep Cover (2025)

Plot Summary: An improv comedy teacher (Bryce Dallas Howard) and two of her students (Orlando Bloom, Nick Mohammed) are recruited by a corrupt cop (Sean Bean) to go undercover. They infiltrate London's criminal world, using their acting skills to catch a gang, only to find themselves deeper in danger and needing to improvise their way out. Director: Tom Kingsley Screenplay: Colin Trevorrow, Derek Connolly, Ben Ashenden, Alexander Owen Producers: Colin Trevorrow, Walter F. Parkes, Laurie MacDonald Music: Daniel Pemberton Cinematography: Will Hanke Starring: Bryce Dallas Howard as Kat Boyles Orlando Bloom as Marlon Swift Nick Mohammed as Hugh Sean Bean as DS Graham Billings Paddy Considine as Fly Ian McShane as Metcalfe Sonoya Mizuno as Shosh Studio / Distributor: Metronome Film Company, Parkes+MacDonald Image Nation / Amazon Prime Video ...