L'assassino dello zar

This is an intriguing and generally engrossing parable which eventually becomes confusing and with the point of it all, ultimately, remaining obscure; it also makes some interesting (though not exactly novel) comments on class, notoriety and about the way history tends to repeat itself. Malcolm McDowell turns in a good performance as a mental patient who believes himself to be the assassin of two Russian Czars; so far so good - but, then, his psychiatrist (for no very good reason) is a dead-ringer for Nicholas II! I haven't watched that many recent Russian films but this one seems to be fairly indicative of their content, style and overall quality - even if made by a director whose work I wasn't familiar with.