Creation of Adam | 
| Director: Yuri Pavlov
Actors: Saulius Balandis, Sergei Vinogradov, Irina Metlitskaya, Anzhelika Nevolina, Aleksandr Strizhenov
Studio: Water Bearer Films
List Price: $39.95
Buy Used: $2.42
You Save: $37.53 (94%)
Used (9) from $2.42
Rating:  3 reviews
Sales Rank: 48682
Format: Color, Subtitled, Ntsc
Languages: English (Subtitled), Russian (Original Language)
Rating: NR (Not Rated)
Media: VHS Tape
Number Of Items: 1
Running Time: 93 Minutes
Shipping Weight (lbs): 0.4
Dimensions (in): 7.3 x 4.2 x 1.1
ISBN: 630364046X
UPC: 759259180659
EAN: 9786303640464
ASIN: 630364046X
Theatrical Release Date: 1993
Release Date: November 11, 1998
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
Shipping: International shipping available
Condition: shrinkwrapped original box -previously viewed FACTORY ORIGINAL- ENGLISG SUBTITLES
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| Customer Reviews:
 bleak realism and blurry mysticism May 13, 2000
Chapulina R (Tovarischi Imports, USA/RUS)
12 out of 12 found this review helpful
"The Creation of Adam" is bold by Russian film-making standards, due to its sympathetic treatment of homosexuality. However, I think it's a mistake to label this a true Gay film. Androgyny and reincarnation are the dominant themes. The protagonist, Andrei, does not have any issues with his heterosexuality although he certainly feels trapped in his toxic marriage with Nina. And, in his bleak and unsuccessful life, he considers himself unworthy of love, either from his shrewish wife or his adoring coworker Natasha. In an early scene of the film, Andrei impulsively goes to the defense of a young victim of a "queer-bashing". Although this incident is seemingly unrelated to the rest of the plot, it sets the stage: we are made graphically aware of the homophobic hatred common in Russia, and we see that this bigotry is not present in Andrei. Rather, he seems to be ambivalently tolerant of homosexuality. But when Andrei meets Philip, a mysterious benefactor for his failing engineering project, strange and disturbing emotions are awakened. He is simultaneously fascinated and frightened by Philip's alluring sensuality and rambling reminiscence of their relationship in a "former incarnation". And Philip is definitely not what he appears. Some rather unsubtle imagery establishes his otherworldly nature. He has apparently returned to thislife to remind Andrei of his worthiness of love. The erotic scenes are dreamlike; in the aftermath Andrei is confused, but he has "remembered" his past existence and relationship with Philip. Disturbed, he seeks out his colleague Natasha, and asks her if she believes in reincarnation. She admits she does, which leads to her own confession that she has recognized in Andrei her soulmate in a future existence. He senses this as well and is drawn to her. Painfully, both realize that their future love cannot be fulfilled in their present life. Returning to Philip, Andrei is agrieved to learn that his "past" soulmate must go back to Andrei's own past self... but before leaving, Philip imparts a happy Message for Andrei's present. The problem with this film is that the supernaturalism does not blend well with the grittier scenes of post-Soviet realism; and the mystical allusions are frequently more confusing to us, the audience, than to Andrei himself. Ultimately though, I found the ending enormously satisfying. Whoever or whatever Philip really is, his continuing love has wrought a miracle in Andrei's life.
 Difficult to follow, poor subtitling. April 26, 1999
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
The main problem with watching the English version of this film is the subtitling. There seems to be quite a bit of innuendo and colloquialism, and the subtitling is extremely literal. I seriously doubt the woman who subtitled the movie speaks any English.The story itself is confusing. We're not sure whether Andrei's is gay or not, or whether he's even having issues with his sexuality.
Dream-like, moody, haunting, Russian Gay film April 11, 1999
2 out of 2 found this review helpful
This is another of those gay films that evokes a mood rather than telling a cogent story. Overall it is somewhat depressing as the lives shown are somwhat bleak and the story told is almost entirely of the mind. The post industrial, wasteland settings bespeak the mood of the individuals and their states of mind. I would rate this movie in the "murky middleground", while not as bleak or exploitative as Boys in the Band, or Cruising, its also not as affirming and upbeat as Torchsong Trilogy or Beautiful Thing.
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