Kidnapping, Caucasian Style, 3d film of the 'Amazing May'

Next Tuesday, 22 of May, we show the 3rd film of our 'Amazing May'

A she-prisoner of the Caucasus, or Shurik's New Adventures (Кавказская пленница, или Новые приключения Шурика) also known as Kidnapping, Caucasian Style, aSoviet comedy film dealing with the theme of bride kidnapping, that is a caucasian pre-wedding tradition (of course, only if a bride agrees to be kidnapped!) 

Wiki says, that the title is a humorous interpretation of the Alexander Pushkin poem, "The Prisoner of the Caucasus", and Leo Tolstoy's adaptation of the poem to a short story. 

The film was directed by Leonid Gaidai, one of the greatest comedy-makers and film-direstors. Almost all his films has become 'cult films' of the Russian cinema. Recently in our cinema club you have seen 'The Diamond Arm' which is also Gaidai's film. 

It is the last film featuring the trio "Coward" (Georgy Vitsin), "Fool" (Yuri Nikulin) and "Experienced" (Yevgeny Morgunov), an act similar to the Three Stooges. The premiere of the film took place in Moscow on April 1, 1967.

PLOT

A kind, yet naïve, anthropology student named Shurik (Alexander Demyanenko) goes to theCaucasus to learn the ancient customs of the locals. While there, he falls in love with Nina (Natalya Varley). However, Nina's uncle (Frunzik Mkrtchyan) sells his niece without her knowledge, and arranges to have Nina kidnapped by the eccentric trio: Coward, Fool and Experienced. After a failed attempt, the uncle decides to trick Shurik into helping with the kidnapping, telling him that it is a traditional custom, and that it was Nina's own wish. Shurik goes through with the kidnapping but, after working through his initial confusion, enlists the help of a friend to eventually rescue Nina from her captors.

FAMOUS QUOTATIONS

— Затем на развалинах часовни… — Простите, часовню тоже я… развалил? — Нет, это было до вас, в четырнадцатом веке.

-then on the ruins of the chapel
- excuse me... the chapel was destroyed also by me...?
- no, it happened before you, in the 14 century

— Бамбарбия! Киргуду! — Что он сказал? — Он говорит, что если вы откажетесь, они вас… Зарежут…. Шутка. — Шутка!

- bambarbia kergudu (indeed, it has no meaning)
- what did he say?
- he says that if you refuse, they will ... kill you. Joke..
- Joke!

— Жить, как говорится, хорошо. — А хорошо жить ещё лучше! — Точно!

- It's good to live!
- and to live good is very good!
- True!

— Иначе «Memento mori!» — Моментально. — В море!

- otherwise 'Memento mori' (in Latin it means 'Remember the death')

- immediately! 

- into the sea!

— Могу я видеть прокурора? — Можете. Где у нас прокурор? — В шестой палате, где раньше Наполеон был.

- May I see the prosecutor?
- You may! Where is our prosecutor?
- In chamber 6, where Napoleon used to be! (means in the madhouse's chamber 6)

Студентка, комсомолка, спортсменка, наконец, она — просто красавица!

- student, comsomol-girl, sportswoman and simply - the beauty!

… и вот когда вся стая полетела зимовать на юг, одна маленькая, но гордая птичка сказала: «Лично я полечу прямо на солнце». И она стала подниматься всё выше и выше, но очень скоро обожгла себе крылья и упала на самое дно самого глубокого ущелья. Так выпьем же за то, чтобы никто из нас, как бы высоко он ни летал, никогда не отрывался бы от коллектива!

Имею желание купить дом, но не имею возможности. Имею возможность купить козу, но… не имею желания. Так выпьем за то, чтобы наши желания всегда совпадали с нашими возможностями…

- I have a desire to buy a house, but have no  opportunity. I have an  opportunity  to buy a goat, but ... have no desire. Let's drink for that our desires always coincide with our  opportunities!

Тост без вина — это всё равно что брачная ночь без невесты.

- Toast without wine is like a honeymoon without a bride!

Чей туфля? Ой, моё! Спасибо.

- Whose shoe? - Mine, thanks!

Неплохо очень совсем без жены, Гораздо лучше с любой стороны!

- It's not bad to have no wife,

Much better from all sides!

— Это, как его, волюнтаризм! — В моём доме не выражаться! — А чего я сказал?

- It's ...what's that.. voluntarism!
- In my house no abuse words!
- But what did I say?

Тот, кто нам мешает, тот нам поможет!

- The one who disturds us, this one will help us!