Good story, Not enough for a whole film

Good movie but grossly overrated

best movie i've ever seen.

It's easily one of the freshest, sharpest and most enjoyable films of this year.

This Russian and French film was made just around the time the Soviet Union was ending and chaotically giving way to a capitalist Russia, and that's reflected over every inch of it. There's a cute premise -- a down-on-his-luck music teacher moves into a new apartment and discovers a literal window to Paris that literally only opens every twenty years. This leads to some very fun, absurd comedy with Russians and French finding their way through the window and becoming very confused -- as well as a great deal of very self-conscious social commentary on the state of Russia at the time. This leads to some interesting contrasts, with the farcical often set against scenes of unhappy people on filthy streets. This contrast doesn't always sit easily, and i doesn't always increase the humor of what's going on but it does always leave an impression. Perhaps most striking is when Nicole finds herself suddenly in Leningrad/St Petersburg, and after some plain-old-hijinx, is confronted with the difficult-to-process sight of a man completely destroying a public phone booth just because nobody will stop him. There's a delicate balance, and sometimes it sways far enough into commentary that the humor stops being sharp, or far enough into comedy that the commentary seems out of tune, but overall they are both strong veins that make their mark on the viewer. Sergey Dontsov is great as a very likable hero for the piece, a shaggy, hard-luck music teacher who scorns the establishment but gets by because he is a pied-piper figure for children. Agnès Soral is very charming as Nicole, but while she works very amusingly as a running-gag neighbor who is constantly infuriated by Russian running through her apartment to get to Paris, she is not really developed enough as a character to make a great impact as a love interest. But because of the charm of Dontsov and his rapport with the children, there is an emotional pull when he convinces them to come back to St Petersburg through the window. And the film winds up very difficult to forget, for its rather wild combination of the whimsical and the grim.

My first Mamin film, saw it on IFC long ago, and LOVED it. It seemed absolutely artistic, original, fun and hilarious. Not a moment in the film let me down or made me bored, and i was laughing a lot or had a smile on my face. I mean this movie is truly funny. But here's the catch: it's also very artistic and creative - if you don't know Yuri Mamin (probably, sadly, because so many of his GREAT films aren't available here) he has a very original style like no one else's, and for me this isn't even my favorite film of his (right now it's the insane ("Saideburns/Bakenbardy"). Also, i have to say as a Russian, this film is great because you really do see what Russians are like. And this is possible because this is a true Russian film to me, NOT a foreign film trying to be American or trying to appeal; Mamin did not sell out (nor has he since, Gorko (1998) was as good if not better. This is true Russian style filmaking that came out of communist Social realism.If you liked this film, i think you have a very high chance of loving Mamin's other films, in fact i like quite a few of them more than this one. I guess this one is his most accessible film. A similar film is Fountain, taking place 6 years before during perestroika, it has the same actor in the leading role, and more of Mamin's regulars who you will recognize from Window to Paris; this one has one supernatural twist in the end but is mostly a realistic comedy, a great one. Viva Mamin, hopefully Criterion will hook all of his movies up one day, he's still working, and his catalog is so great! See any of his films if you can.

Warning: perhaps a spoiler here.I have to agree that Okno v Parizh is an unexpectedly delightful comedy, though the premise of the film might at first glance seem a bit ridiculous... a magic window that takes a group of Russians directly to Paris? Yes, exactly, that sounds a bit ridiculous, but it's a load of fun, too. And this group of inter-window travellers soon embarks on an adventure where they must (for a moment) brave (or happily succumb to) the delicious terrors of the temptations of capitalism... Okno v Parizh is hysterical but also makes some serious points if you look below the surface. In fact, it is amazing how well the film manages to keep a light-hearted tone throughout, despite the obvious dangers the film portrays within St. Petersburg, where the group of Russians must return and where an unsuspecting French woman is transported through the magic window... Overall, I give this funny film high marks: 8/10.

What a marvelous and multi-faceted film! Accurately but humorously portrays Communist Russia's class struggle and communal life. Juxtaposes an educated musician against blue-collar "bloodsucking" neighbors, as well as bleak Leningrad against the colorful splendors of Paris. A wonderful metaphor for the utopia many dream of finding: our chances of reaching it are limited, and when the opportunity presents itself, some throw themselves fearlessly into it, others hesitate until it is too late, while still others fail to recognize that they're already there. One of the few films that can be viewed hundreds of times and never grow old.