Kin-Dza-Dza (1986)

This is the weirdest movie I've ever seen.It was competely absurd.Movie genre is noted as 'Cyber Punk' but IMDB states as 'Bizarre,Absurdism,Absurd Humor,Surrealism'.

Two Russians are transferred to an outer planet and they are trying to get back to earth.Meanwhile they meet with strange aliens[all exactly looking like Humans and knowing Russian] and those aliens have strange and funny customs.

Although the movie was so absurd I did not come to the point 'Come ooon' and shut it down but instead I wanted to continue seeing it to see what absurd will happen next.


IMDB rating of movie is fairly high: 8.1 and wikipedia says recently animated version of the film is completed for kids.Here is a small except from the movie on youtube.

It is also strange that this is a Soviet movie from Mosfilm studios.Anyway, if you want to see it yourselves check here.

Hong Kong

Last week I was in Hong Kong for 4 days. I was there to attend Sibos2009 event.

Hong Kong has a terrible weather, humidity is too high, during my visit tempature was always above 30 and Humidity was %95 sometimes!

All buidings, event the smallest groceries shop have strong air conditioners which make interiors fairly cold but when you step outside a building a hot and thick weather just slaps on your face, it was terrible.

I also witnessed a typhoon, in fact I was inside so i did not witness anything literally.But there were typhoon alerts everywhere and also all TVs were mentioning about it. The day when typhoon occured when I got into my room I found a note from hotel management saying something like : There is a typhoon alert but there is not much to worry typhoons occur frequently in Hong Kong and they pass away just stay away from your window and keep your windows closed :)

I stayed at JW Mariott Hotel which I can mention with good impressions.The service quality was nice , staff was kind and helpful. It was near Admirality metro station which is the central place in Hong Kong island.


About the Hong Kong city...hmm...I did not like the city very much, there is not much to talk about, every where is full of skyscapers and they are build very close which makes them even boring. Even in very central districs there are ruined places and small dirty shops just a few steps from those tall buildings.


I should say that Hong Kong people are generally kind, willing to help and know to smile[none of these apply for Russians but I still like Russia better:)]

Also few words for Sibos organization...it was very well managed, Hong Kongers know how to do this stuff. There were people to assist the attending people everywhere, in many of central places. There were Sibos desks in many of the big events.Even there was a special passport check station at the HK International airport for people attending Sibos when entering the country.6 stars over 5!

Agoniya-Rasputin(1981)

I have downloaded this film from http://www.foriegnmoviesddl.com but unfortunately it was so boring that I could not advance to the second CD. IMDB point is surprisingly high as 6.9.

Kizil Babalar, Sovyetler'de Mafya (1991)

Although the book's title is Mafia in the Soviets it does not mention the Godfathers in the sense we understand. The author claims that Soviet mafia system is different than its western counterpart.Mafia is a civil organization bribing police and poiticians and stealing from people in western countries while in the Soviet Union mafia is characterized as a state organization. I mean higher ranking state officials steal from the state!.The author even claims that the system forces even honest people to the dark side, to steal from the state.

Another book on political corruption on the soviet union, special events on Brejnev era are worth reading.

Lilja 4-ever (2002)

I have downloaded this movie sometime ago,but was down on my list then I saw Stilyagi and leart that the pretty main actress was also the star of this movie, Lilja 4-Ever so I decided to bring it to an upper position on my list.

I am glad I did so it is a very nice movie with a sad theme.Here is the summary of IMDB "Lilja is 16 years old. Her only friend is the young boy Volodja. They live in a poor village in Estonia, fantasizing about a better life. One day, Lilja falls in love with Andrej. He is going to Sweden, and invites Lilja to come along and start a new life...."

Ben Bir Isik Ariyordum(1962)

Memoirs of a Kazan Turk born in today's Tataristan.The memoirs start during the Civil War era, just before the revolution, he went thought very troubling times... you might read this book as a thriller, an adventure book.

What is interesting is todays politically corrupted Russia, being able to solve all problems by offering money to the officials existed long before Soviet days...it is not a side effect/remains of Soviet system but Russian way of doing things:)

Details of the book can be seen here