The Barber of Siberia

A Brief History of "The Barber of Siberia"

Many thanks to Penny.

1996

"Julia Ormond may soon get one of the most coveted roles in Hollywood. Daily Variety reports Ormond is in final negotiations to star in The Barber of Siberia, which will begin shooting in Siberia in January."

"Julia Ormond is hammering out a deal to star in one of the most coveted female roles in town, the lead in The Barber of Siberia for Oscar-winner Nikita Mikhalkov.  Mikhalkov, will direct from his own script about a jaded but passionate American con aretist who falls in love with a Russian officer in the late 19th century."

"Ormond is negotiating for the lead part of the American woman, which was being chased by a number of actresses even though the project will be shot in Siberia in January.

1997

Julia quote-- "It's a great story and I think the way that Nikita has done it is really extrodinary.  I think all his films are extrodinary , but this is on a much bigger scale than he has done before."

The film--- budget 1996  $22 million, by 1999 $45 million reported.

"The film marks a departure for Mikhalkov, who previously made films only in Russian for Russians , but this film is designed with foreign audiences in mind.

In 1997 Barber was called a "hot Euro Title on the slate"

Mikhalkov Interview 1997--re plot
'This mammoth effort, my company's greatest ever, produced a panoramic drama of turn-of-the century Russia.  The plot is focused on young military cadets who experience every conceivable tribulation of love, jeaousy, treachery, cut-throat rivalry, duels and even war but retain their pristine love for the Motherland and ingrained diginity, something the current generations have largely lost and have yet to recover." (this must be the 6 hour version, not the 3 hour version)

1998

"The film should be a sweeping, lush and powerful epic, and is currently clocking in at about 3 hours (after A LOT of cutting.)"

"Nikita  Mikhalkov's The Barber of Siberia starring Julia Ormond has been at the top of acquisition execs' shopping lists.  But it looks like those eager to get a first glimpse of the romanic drama won't be able to see it during the London Screenings this month or at Milan MIFED market in early November.  Instead, they may have to travel to Moscow for a peek at the movie, which is still in postproduction."

The film finished shooting in August, 1997
It was not ready for a spot at Cannes, 1998 either.

'The London Screenings are without two of their most anticipated titles.  Buyers hoped to catch a glimpse of The Barber of Siberia. 

Other articles have the film ready for May 1998, and other dates but then not ready.

Then Dec. 1998...

"Nikita Mikhalkov's lavish new epic The Barber of Siberia will not be nominated for best foreign language film at this year's Oscars because his Three T studio has broken the rules."

"A film of Gone with the Wind proportions, The Barber of Siberia has been criticised by Russians who believe Mikhalkov has sold his soul to the West and become the Russian equivalent of Merchant-Ivory.  "

"There's a  potential for controversy this year involving Russia's submission, The Barber of Siberia (re: Oscars) There's some question over whether the film's final version played in
Russia for seven consecutive days in a commercial theater, as it must to qualify under Academy rules.  

Sources say the film is still being edited and won't screen in it's final form until the Moscow premiere. Mikhalkov submitted a form that states that the final version screen at a Moscow theater from Oct. 23rd to Oct. 30th.   (already a controversy has started)

1999

"Barber won't close The Berlin Film Festival - Nikita Mikhalkov's Barber of Siberia, will no longer close the fest as previously discussed."

Then came the Russian Moscow Premiere-  "Barber cuts political barriers" The film was called "a blockbuster film."

Firework displays, Hermes scarves, cigars, cologne, ringing of church bells, etc.   6000 attended.  

"Clearly this three-hour tale of star-crossed love between a young Russian army cadet and an American femme fatale is no ordinary blockbuster, but Mikhalkov is no ordinary director."

(now the film is a love story )

"Though the pic's main theme is a tragic love affair, the grandeur of it's scenes suggests a postcard style promotion for Russia."  (gone is the Cadet focus and honor and ?)  

Then discussion started on the $10 million dollars that came from the Russian government coffers-- payment isn't a priority, and they talked about workers who are going with pay at the same time. "The impoverished Russian taxpayer chipped in a non returnable $10 million.  Mr Mikhalkov plans to repay the debt in kind."

"Film aims to rekindle Russia's dying pride"

"In this film there is one main aim - I want people to feel their dignity and respect their history.  It's impossible to live without the past.  If you live without the past you have no future.  Once our dignity awakens, we can set to work on the economy.  Then we will start
to make something, instead of waiting for Snickers bars of the next gift from the West." Mikhalkov said.   hmmm.  No longer a film for entertainment . 

Now the plot changes again  "Set at the end of the 19th century, The Barber of Siberia traces the doomed affair of a US commercial spy (Ormond) and her Russian officer lover (Menshikov)" - now we have spies.

The same article says "It is a feel good film which will make Mr. Mikhalkov money in the Est and political friends at home. It's main themes-Russia's uniqueness and intrinsic immunity to Western ideas are the new political establishment's quiding philosophy." The plot has changed and we now have spies and good guys and bad guys?  Russia vs. The West.? (not cowboys)
  
Then the talk turned to Mikhalkov and his appearance as the Czar and political ambitions. More was discussed about his chances for political office than the film itself.

Almost nothing was said about the film and the actors, except for Nikita Mikhalkov and politics but for this: "The movie makes a dig at rapacious foreigners, epitomized by Irsh actor Richard Harris's role as the exxentric American inventor of a monstrous tree felling device, the eponymous "Barber of Siberia." (Well at least we now know why this weird title!)

The best quote about the film - "regardless of whether the film is a complete success, it is undoubedly a huge achievement in itself."   this from a Hollywood trade paper.

By this time Barber was called "controversial."

By now I can't remember how many different plots there are or were. Julia is an industrial spy or just a love sick femme fatale.  Menchikov is and has stayed a cadet.  Mikhalkov rides a white horse.

"Mikhalkov has been omnipresent in the past week throughout the news media, and his film already has it's own cigarettes, cigars, Hermes scarves, vodka and even eau de Cologne-supposed to contain the essence of the Mikhalkov's moustache.  Television news showed perfume testers sniffing the great man's upper lip to make sure they got the scent just right" (yes that is what the article said.)  

Then we get the news that Barber will get it's foreign premiere at Cannes 99.
 
"It is expected to be entered into the Cannes Film Festival before making it's North American premiere in the fall, times, the makers hope, to make a run for the Academy Awards in 2000."   

Then on May 12th The Barber of Siberia opened the 52nd Cannes Film Festival. ----- I have tried to compile as best I could information that may answer many questions that Ormond fans , like I myself, had.  Why she took this particular role was the main one?  I discovered that it was a coveted role. It sounded like a good role, whatever the role was or is? It is very confusing.    

This film has had more incarnations than any I have ever heard of. Changing plots aside so much has been written about this film without even talking about the film. It was more a history lesson - Mikhalkov 101.

This film was lost in a maze of press that talked mainly about politics and budgets and delays and moustache sniffing..   The Oscar submission did not help.   Attitudes towards the West did not help.   What is The Barber of Siberia about?

I don't know at this point and Cannes reviews were of no help, what The Barber of Siberia is about.  I do know that it is long, but was much longer.  I know it's loud. Also something about a Russian dream. I know that Harris is angry at someone for something, because he
had his mouth open in one scene..  I know that Julia's character wears a bad hat in one scene and smokes alot.and is an American.  I know that cadets slip on a waxed floor.  I know that Mikhalkov rides  a white horse in one scene.   All this I learned from pages and pages of reviews.

I have no idea what Julia's character Jane Callahan is or does. Is she a prostitute, an industrial spy, a femme fatale ,or just a stepdaughter? Was she an abused child?
Is the character brash, loud or just plain lovesick? The reviews gave me all this non- information?  

I will have to wait to see this film to judge for myself.  And hopefully I will get to see this film.

I cannot judge this film on the reviews from Cannes.  They say alot, but say nothing.  How can I not see this film just because a reviewer cannot understand what happens to Julia's characters smoking habit towards the end of the film? Or remarks on her wearing a bad hat!

Because I am a Julia Ormond fan, I will see this film.  I may like the film, I may not.  I have never let critics/reviewers pick my films for me.   

Whether the film is a success or not depends on how you look at it. What is success?

It was a grand undertaking for all involved and I think everyone from the Producers, to the Director, to the Crew and the Actors should be congratulated for making this film.

If Directors, Producers, Actors don't take chances there would be no movies, no films.  No critics/reviewers.   No Cannes.
 
 

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To end this epic , I have this one last quote from a Moscow fan

"At the Moscow Premiere I saw Julia very closely as she passed by my seat along with Richard Harris and Shirley McLaine and then on the stage after the end of the movie. 

You know, many stars are way less attractive "alive" than on a screen.  

I can't say the same about Julia-- she really is a beautiful woman as well as a beautiful actress."