Ebook: Sad Comedy of Èl'dar Riazanov: An Introduction to Russia's Most Popular Filmmaker

Russia's funniest and most popular films are the work of Èl'dar Riazanov, a director whose light, lyrical tales of love lost and found have garnered audiences of over one hundred million. Although Western scholars have largely ignored Riazanov's oeuvre in favour of more serious filmmakers, no director in Russia has been so loved by both the public (openly) and politicians (covertly). His early comedies mapped the relations between society and socialism, allowing him to create a radically apolitical art of kindness and kindred spirits.