Unit 1 (continued)
Analyze at least three different, specific scenes that you find particularly important or revealing? Why are they significant and what do they reveal?
The first scene that I've chosen is when Katya and Lyudmila are walking from the workers' dorm to the steps outside a French film festival. As Lyudmila sees it, the women have to meet men with some city sophistication and avoid the ones who share their own rural origins. This sets the stage for the pair lying about their identities in order to attract desirable partners. This lie will shape their destinies.
The second is when Katya, impatient with how long it takes to get a fitter to service the punch press that she operates, takes the initiative and learns how to do it herself. This initiative will later lead to her becoming a fitter. It will also ultimately lead to her position as director of the facility. This is not the future that she has seen for herself but it shows that she is willing to work hard and show initiative. These are things for which she achieves recognition on her own.
The third also takes place in 1958 at the factory when Katya is being interviewed on television. The man behind the camera is the man she deceived when she and Lyudmila were posing as university students. As an interviewer begins to ask her about her job, Katya has to come to grips with having her lover find out about her before she was able to face telling him herself. She becomes very candid and outspoken with the interviewer. She refuses to give the prepared answers with which she was supplied. Suddenly free from the lie, the real Katya emerges.
Were there any aspects of those scenes or the film as a whole that you find confusing or unclear?
There is a very pivotal argument scene in Katya's 1978 kitchen when she, Alexandra and Gosha are talking about Gosha's use of physical force in dealing with some men who wanted to beat up Alexandra's boyfriend. Katya does not approve of Gosha's behavior and tells him that he is never to do anything like that in the future without talking to her first. Gosha agrees but tells her to never speak like that to him again or he will leave.
It's a taut scene and helps to set up his sudden departure from her home which actually occurs when he finds out that she makes more money than he does. Clearly, Gosha's pride is wounded but I feel that I'm missing something significant in the translation. They are, after all, at her table and Alexandra is her daughter. Katya doesn't even know Gosha's proper name and he doesn't know what she does for a living. Their relationship, up to this point, has been a romantic fantasy. I'm not clear whether the argument over the fight is still part of this fantasy phase and he is acting out his idea of head of the family or if it is one of the reasons that he does take off.
If you had to rewrite the ending, how would you change it?
It would be hard to rewrite the ending because it is a romantic comedy and the ending is to be expected. Once Gosha is found and persuaded to return to Katya, he takes his place at the table. As they begin to eat, Katya gazes at him and asks him if he knows how long she has looked for him. They do not fall breathlessly into one another's arms. They eat.
Happy as the ending is for the characters, I am uncomfortable wiith the way that Gosha walks in and asks Katya if supper is ready. It seems clear from the question that, whatever Katya's rank or paygrade, Gosha will outrank her in her own home. Given her strong character, it seems odd that she would accept this sort of arrangement.
The first scene that I've chosen is when Katya and Lyudmila are walking from the workers' dorm to the steps outside a French film festival. As Lyudmila sees it, the women have to meet men with some city sophistication and avoid the ones who share their own rural origins. This sets the stage for the pair lying about their identities in order to attract desirable partners. This lie will shape their destinies.
The second is when Katya, impatient with how long it takes to get a fitter to service the punch press that she operates, takes the initiative and learns how to do it herself. This initiative will later lead to her becoming a fitter. It will also ultimately lead to her position as director of the facility. This is not the future that she has seen for herself but it shows that she is willing to work hard and show initiative. These are things for which she achieves recognition on her own.
The third also takes place in 1958 at the factory when Katya is being interviewed on television. The man behind the camera is the man she deceived when she and Lyudmila were posing as university students. As an interviewer begins to ask her about her job, Katya has to come to grips with having her lover find out about her before she was able to face telling him herself. She becomes very candid and outspoken with the interviewer. She refuses to give the prepared answers with which she was supplied. Suddenly free from the lie, the real Katya emerges.
Were there any aspects of those scenes or the film as a whole that you find confusing or unclear?
There is a very pivotal argument scene in Katya's 1978 kitchen when she, Alexandra and Gosha are talking about Gosha's use of physical force in dealing with some men who wanted to beat up Alexandra's boyfriend. Katya does not approve of Gosha's behavior and tells him that he is never to do anything like that in the future without talking to her first. Gosha agrees but tells her to never speak like that to him again or he will leave.
It's a taut scene and helps to set up his sudden departure from her home which actually occurs when he finds out that she makes more money than he does. Clearly, Gosha's pride is wounded but I feel that I'm missing something significant in the translation. They are, after all, at her table and Alexandra is her daughter. Katya doesn't even know Gosha's proper name and he doesn't know what she does for a living. Their relationship, up to this point, has been a romantic fantasy. I'm not clear whether the argument over the fight is still part of this fantasy phase and he is acting out his idea of head of the family or if it is one of the reasons that he does take off.
If you had to rewrite the ending, how would you change it?
It would be hard to rewrite the ending because it is a romantic comedy and the ending is to be expected. Once Gosha is found and persuaded to return to Katya, he takes his place at the table. As they begin to eat, Katya gazes at him and asks him if he knows how long she has looked for him. They do not fall breathlessly into one another's arms. They eat.
Happy as the ending is for the characters, I am uncomfortable wiith the way that Gosha walks in and asks Katya if supper is ready. It seems clear from the question that, whatever Katya's rank or paygrade, Gosha will outrank her in her own home. Given her strong character, it seems odd that she would accept this sort of arrangement.
posted by cafegirl | 12:46 AM
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