Inner Circle | 
| Director: Andrei Konchalovsky
Actors: Tom Hulce, Lolita Davidovich, Bob Hoskins, Aleksandr Zbruyev, Feodor Chaliapin Jr.
Studio: Sony Pictures
List Price: $19.98
Buy Used: $11.98
You Save: $8.00 (40%)
New (1) Used (17) Collectible (3) from $11.98
Rating:  16 reviews
Sales Rank: 5051
Format: Closed-captioned, Color, Ntsc
Language: English (Original Language)
Rating: PG-13 (Parental Guidance Suggested)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 122 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 6302439361
UPC: 043396510739
EAN: 9786302439366
ASIN: 6302439361
Theatrical Release Date: December 25, 1991
Release Date: June 24, 1994
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Here's an intriguing little premise: Inside Stalin's Kremlin, as seen by... his movie projectionist! Now that's glasnost. As played by Tom Hulce, he's an optimistic little dweeb who believes that Fearless Leader has only his best interests at heart. Most of the film is about his waiting to do his job, getting occasional glimpses of Uncle Joe, not realizing that, when the ruthless dictator finally does engage him in conversation, Stalin might as well be talking to a bug. Bob Hoskins pops up as Berea, head of the KGB and master of deceit--but mostly he wags his eyebrows and looks amused. It's a long slog to the finish, but then, that's true of almost all of director Andrei Konchalovsky's films. --Marshall Fine
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| Customer Reviews: Read 11 more reviews...
It gives you the perfect feeling of Stalin regime in USSR . October 3, 2002
Vlad (russianwriter.net)
16 out of 20 found this review helpful
Just an everadge russian ( Tom Hulce ) in Stalin regime time . Got a job inside the Kremlin by exident ... and the movie started . Through the " looking glass " of his wife ( Lolita Davidovich ).
This film will help you to understand all the crasyness , brutality and unfearness of this period of Russian history . People desapiaring without a trace . For no reason at all . People turning each other in ... just to look better . Brainwashing of propaganda at it's best . It is so sad ... it hearts . But not as much , as real people has been heart in reality of that time .
A must se film for people , who wants to learn more about this period of time in Russian history . Who wants to realise , how brainwashing works in morden time in ANY society ...
Powerful April 25, 1999
Igor Gershenson (USA)
14 out of 14 found this review helpful
This is by far the most underrated film ever made. Granted, it might seem emotionally draining and depressing the first time you see it. However, it is still one of the most memorable pictures I have ever seen. The story is simple in a sense that everyone's motivations are clear, and that is precisely what is so good about the film; you don't have to spend hours figuring out who did what and why. The characters are not one-dimensional, as Leonard Maltin said. They are as complex as they need to be. Matlin also pointed out that the film lacks subtlety. Actually, the film is more subtle than it appears to be. Think about it. The Inner Circle is, among other things, a statement against Stalinism. Yet we never see any labor camps. We do not see anyone getting shot. The Inner Circle only tells a story of one family. After seeing what they have to go through we begin to understand the true extent of the horror that Stalin unleashed on his nation. Also, this film is truly moving. Part of the reason the movie is so successful is that it is about real people and real situations. Oh, the performances.... I do not where to begin. Tom Hulce is incredible. If I did not know him from Amadeus I would have thought he was a Russian actor. Just look at the expression on his face: He looks as if he is actually living the story. Other actors are great too. To make the long story short, if you are into Russian history and you don't mind watching powerful and thought-provoking drama once in a while than this movie is for you.
A difficult film for the typical American film viewer December 21, 1999
Deborah Lovelace (Missouri, USA)
11 out of 13 found this review helpful
This film is not entertainment. It insists that a viewer become involved within the metaphors. The use of mirrors throughout the film invites one to view the "inner circle" as much more than those people closest to Stalin. This technique asks the viewer to question how normal people, like the one in the mirror, can allow evil to dominate. Even more, it asks how a normal person can actually sanitize evil, in one's mind (One's own inner circle), into something worthy of "love" above and beyond the "inner circle" of love of family, friends, country and even self. At the same time, this film answers these questions. One must "close" the inner circle just to survive physically, mentally and emotionally. This is a deeply psychological film. What Maltin views as "one-dimensional acting" is actually the representation (done brilliantly by Hulce)of the shut-down of the psyche. Stalin's questioning, during Ivan's psychotic break after the suicide of his pregnant wife, of how he (Stalin) can trust anyone when even his inner circle lies to him, is a statement of Ivan's psychological state where he can no longer trust his own preceptions, nor himself. It is not safe. This is the ultimate in oppression.
How many Katyas are there? January 12, 2003
Gary Selikow (Great Kush)
11 out of 12 found this review helpful
A poignant, chilling and fascinating look into what Totalitarianism does to the human mind, and how it destroys innocent lives.
Ivan, played by Tom Hulce, is a simple-minded projectionist, who is devoted with all his heart and soul, the Communist Party and its leaders, first and foremost, the mass murderer Stalin.
He gets a job working for Stalin and his Ministers, and cannot see that this is the heart of evil. Lolita Davidovich plays the role of his beautiful young wife, Anastasia, who is also a wonderful person, who cannot live in such an evil society. The humanity of her relationship with the little daughter of their neighbors (Katya), the Kupermans (executed as enemies of the people) is extremely touching, but cannot survive the cruelty of the Communist system. It is essentially a human drama, not a political movie, but humanity is destroyed in totalitarian systems, and after we see the suffering it has caused, we see how the old Professor in Ivanys apartment is on the mark when he observes how ySatan is; living in the Kremliny In regard to Katyays fate, the movie asks us yhow many Katyas are there?y
Indeed how many innocents where destroyed by Communist dictatorships around the world.
At universities around the world, the human cost of this system does not interest the academics, who have no time for ordinary humans.
It is left to the survivors to pick up the pieces, and the victims forgotteny
One of the most powerful and moving film I've ever watched October 19, 1999
9 out of 11 found this review helpful
I watched this film accidentally on TV one night, but then couldn't help myself stuck to it until finished it. It successfully captured the horrorifying atmosphere during the Stalin period, and it told far more than that. The film is more subtle than it appears. Many scenes may seem to be ordinary and common when you first see it, but are turn out to be deep insights and powerful description of Stalin's inner circle. You would think the name "inner circle" refers to the power center around Stalin at first, but then you'd find the whole Russia turned out to be the inner circle... As a Chinese, the film gave me a deeper impact. I guess the Jews and the Russians would feel the same. What's happening in the film was so alike what was happening in China during 1960s. It got wonderful scenes and actors. Tom Hulce surely did a great job; other actors are also great. They acted so well that I thought they're all Russian, actually they're not. I dunno how to describe it-- it's stunning-- I highly recommand it to all.
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