Gasp, some truth behind Larry's trainwreck story!

[mendeleyev]

I know, the subject line drew you in.  I must pay back Larry for his Mendy cathouse comments (which were classic).

Seriously, I didn't wish to derail his very realistic and well-written "train wreck" story but thought this worthwhile to share as an accompaniment to his topic.


First you must read Larry's train wreck story in this section.

Now, you do know that something a bit similar happens in the popular Russian movie, Stilyagi (Стиляги)?

The cool aspect is that a movie with so many funny parts actually teaches a moral lesson on acceptance, on several different human levels. In the link below, fast forward to 1:47:15 as Mel's father gathers everyone from their crowded communal apartment to bring home Mel's girlfriend Polly and the baby.

There is a tradition for the mother to deliver in a maternity clinic while the father is not present. Russians are often fascinated at our Western desire to be with wives in the delivery process. Anyway, the new father is surrounded by family and friends when mom and baby are brought downstairs for the father to take them home. This is one of the funniest and most series parts of this movie.

Young Mel is stunned in silence but watch what happens when Mel's father, after seeing the baby says one word, twice: наш.

Someone in the assembled crowd says it, Papa says it again a second time and the matter is settled. In the communal context Papa affirms that the baby is ours and yours.

Reunion: after arriving home to their communal apartment Polly's Mum walks in and at first reacts violently against her daughter upon seeing the baby. Before long however babushka is proudly holding the baby.

The movie Stilyagi is about how some Soviet youth imitated life in America, especially when it came to jazz and 1940s music. It is a cool movie and I'm sorry that apparently the only version with English subtitles is heavily edited and leaves out many important scenes, including this one.


Start at 1:47:15

[mendeleyev]

Today there are "Stilyagi" cafes and nightclubs and the American 1940s still lives one in the FSU, such as this club

 in Odessa: http://stilyagi.karaoke.ua/


and this one in Krasnodar, Russia: http://www.tili-testo.su/catalog/detail/34/






and in Kiev:  http://vecherom.kiev.ua/restaurant/item/38-stiliaga.html


In Moscow there is the Jazz-Cafe on Kutuzovksy not far from Victory Park.

In Novgorod apparently there are gals waiting for an invitation to dance at the Stilyaga Cafe, so if you are headed that direction...