The Garage

The general assembly of a garage cooperative is called. A new road means four members will lose their garages, and who goes will be decided by a vote. As the meeting proceeds, everyone's connections, privileges and knowledge of each other come out. Eldar Ryazanov directed and wrote it, and appears in a small role himself. The film takes place almost entirely in one location, the museum hall of a zoological institute. An argument conducted among stuffed animals is the source of its humour. Criticism of bureaucracy and privilege this direct was rare in Soviet cinema. The characters are recognisable types: the one with party connections, the one who stays quiet, the one who gets carried away, the one who demands justice and the one waiting for an opening. It had a difficult passage through censorship and remained contested after release. The structure is that of a stage play; the camera does not move and everything advances through talk. Who it is for: viewers who like Soviet satire and single-location films. Who it is not for: anyone unfamiliar with the period; some of the references need context.