@celeste_writes
A patient, formally daring work — the cinematography lingers on empty rooms longer than most audiences will tolerate, but those who stay are rewarded with the most haunting final act of the year.
How the Beatles Rocked the Kremlin
"The story of the Beatles' effect on the Soviet Union."
In August 1962, director Leslie Woodhead made a two-minute film in Liverpool's Cavern Club with a raw and unrecorded group of rockers called the Beatles. He arranged their first live TV appearances on a local show in Manchester and watched as the Fab Four phenomenon swept the world. Twenty-five years later while making films in Russia, Woodhead became aware of how, even though they were never able to play in the Soviet Union, the Beatles' legend had soaked into the lives of a generation of kids. This film meets the Soviet Beatles generation and hears their stories about how the Fab Four changed their lives, including Putin's deputy premier Sergei Ivanov, who explains how the Beatles helped him learn English and showed him another life. (Storyville)
Quick Stats
6.5
TMDB Rating
4
Votes
1h
Runtime
—
Budget
—
Box Office
—
Return
Key Crew
DirectorLeslie Woodhead
CinematographyRoger Chapman
EditorRob Moore
Produced by
Blakeway ProductionsBBCThirteenARTESWR
Where to Watch
Streaming
Netflix
HBO MaxBuy
Apple iTunesSee more on TMDB → JustWatch
Critics & Reviews
3 featured@jhalberg
I walked in expecting another genre exercise and walked out feeling like I'd been eavesdropping on a confession. The lead performance is genuinely singular — a career-defining turn.
@priya_a
A few too many scenes feel borrowed from a better film, but the soundtrack and the production design carry the rest. Solid recommendation for fans of slow-burn European thrillers.
Cast
Artemiy Troitskiy
Self - Russian Rock Commentator
Leslie Woodhead
Self - Narrator
George Martin
Self
Kolya Vasin
Self
Y
Yury Pelyushonok
Self
Stas Namin
Self
Paul McCartney
Self
Boris Grebenshchikov
Self
Vladimir Pozner
Self
