Silver Skates

Silver Skates

1899, the Christmas-time St.Petersburg. Ice-covered rivers and canals of the capital seethe with festive activities. On the eve of the new century those who should not be destined to meet, come together. They are people from different worlds: Matvey, the son of a lamplighter, whose only treasure is his silver-plated skates; Alice is the daughter of a high-ranking official dreaming of science. Each of them has his own difficult life-story, but having accidentally met they rush forward together in pursuit of their dreams.

  • Released: 2020-12-10
  • Runtime: 136 minutes
  • Genre: Adventure, Drama, Romance
  • Stars: Fedor Fedotov, Sonia Priss, Aleksey Guskov, Yuri Kolokolnikov, Severija Janušauskaitė, Kirill Zaytsev, Yuriy Borisov, Aleksandra Revenko, Timofey Tribuntsev, Sergey Koltakov, Yan Reshetnikov, Denis Lavant, Cathy Belton, Vasily Kopeikin, Vera Pleshanova, Mikhail Shelomentsev, Dmitry Lysenkov, Arkadiy Koval, Dmitriy Murashev, Valeriy Kukhareshin, Sergey Barkovsky, Denis Pyanov, Elena Rufanova, Sergey Zamorev, Evgeniy Kuzmin, Maxim Khanzhov, Kirill Frolov, Denis Kozinets, Anton Pulit, Aleksey Simonov, Sergey Trifonov, Игорь Павлов, Kirill Baloban, Yakov Petrov, Artyom Leshchik, Valery Smekalov, Tatyana Polonskaya, Egor Bakulin, Yana Pronina, Kirill Yakushenko
  • Director: Mikhail Lokshin
 Comments
  • doyler79 - 4 January 2024
    "Silver Skates: Navigating Love and Politics in Imperial Saint Petersburg"
    "Silver Skates," directed by Michael Lockshin, unfolds a classic fairytale against the backdrop of Imperial Saint Petersburg at the turn of the twentieth century. The film showcases lavish production design and period details, immersing the audience in a winter wonderland. However, its charm is weighed down by a runtime of two hours and ten minutes, coupled with trite elements and a political undercurrent that sometimes feels ham-fisted.

    Matvey, portrayed by Fedor Fedotov, an ice-skating courier, forms the central link in a doomed romance with Alisa (Sonia Priss), the daughter of Minister Nikolai Nikolaevich (Aleksey Guskov). The predictable societal constraints, particularly patriarchal attitudes, hinder Alisa's scholarly ambitions as a budding chemist. Her father intends to marry her off to Captain Prince Arkadiy Trubetskoy (Kirill Zaytsev), further entangling the characters in a web of love, societal expectations, and political intrigue.

    The film attempts to weave a critique of imperialism through the rich-poor divide, industrialization, and societal struggles. However, these themes often take a backseat to the primary fairytale romance. The gang of ice-skating pickpockets, led by Alexey Tarasov (Yuriy Borisov), serves as a vehicle for Marxist ideology, adding a layer of social commentary but feeling somewhat forced in its execution.

    Despite its shortcomings, "Silver Skates" boasts handsome production and a wintry fairytale quality that elevates its visual appeal. The orchestration of action sequences is commendable, and the performances, especially by the cast, contribute some value. While the film follows a well-trodden path, its style and energy make it an enjoyable journey, even if its emotional depth remains elusive.

    In summary, "Silver Skates" blends a charming love story with occasional nods to social critique. Its icy surface may be challenging to emotionally grasp, but the film's aesthetic allure and spirited execution offer a satisfying cinematic experience.

    #SilverSkatesFilm #ImperialRomance #RussianFairytale.
  • hwc-60878 - 10 November 2021
    Delightful
    An absolute pleasure to watch. My only complaint is that it should be multiple-episode, not a stand alone movie. It's sumptuous, fast paced, and beautifully filmed. (The TV-MA rating is ridiculous - this is a sweet, Disneyesque experience that would warrant a "G" in the cinema.)
  • jessiehuiden-49100 - 14 July 2021
    Visual stunning, fun, feel good movie
    The story itself is not that special and can be considered cliché. In this movie however that does not seem to be a problem as the execution is almost perfect. As said in reviews by other people this movie feels and is a Russian fairytale. The beautiful cinematography and scenery really pulls you into the story and does not let you go until the very end. The acting and casting is very good and the action scenes, although sometimes a bit over the top, are interesting and fun to see. This movie is perfect if you just want to watch a beautiful, entertaining and most of all fun story without having to think much about the plot.