The story continues.. The next movie we saw was "Falling Up" directed by Alexandr Strizhenov and Sergei Ginzburg. The style of this movie differed quite a bit from "The Lover" (see previous post) and seemed a little 'brighter' and up-market, but again thoroughly enjoyable.

IceQueen and I again dressed up somewhat and met up with Altie at the theater (and yes, we were late again although the movie had not started yet). Here's the basic storyline:

The young woman has everything that others dream about: money, striking looks, comfortable marriage. Why does she feel wretched? Once she decides to have her luxurious chimney altered and calls a specialist. Thus a love story begins. The movie about the "modest charm of the bourgeoisie" is shot in real-life glossy interiors of Moscow.

This is a direct quote so don't blame me for the way it's written ..especially the bit about having her chimney seen to. *stare*. Briefly, the lead actress is married to a high-level government exec and although she 'has it all', she is unsatisfied and 'restless'. Her husband goes away on a business trip, and her best friend talks her into having a fling with a contractor while hiring him to build a chimney on their house as a surprise for the husband on his return.

The affair develops and then the story twists, as it turns out the husband is not on a business trip at all, but is instead staying with his 'bit on the side' nearby ..who turns out to be the very same friend who set the lead actress up with the builder. This friend then sets it up so that the husband sees them together, and he is caught in a dilemma of wanting to go and confront them, but in doing so would reveal his own affair with his mistress. It's a case of the grass being greener on the other side and the hypocrisy of their lives together. I wont reveal any more, but again, I recommend seeing it.