JAZZMAN

Karen Chakhnazarov was a writer of short stories and screenplays, as well as the director of numerous short films and one feature film, “The Little Man” (1979), before making JAZZMAN in 1983. JAZZMAN is one of the most popular Soviet films of the past decade, an entertaining comedy featuring early jazz tunes and a trio of comedians as wild as the Ritz brothers, Russian-style. Kostia (Igor Sklyar) is a music conservatory student in Odessa with a passion for jazz. He has a clean-cut, Andy Hardy earnestness about him as he auditions for the official censors who must pass judgment on this “American decadent” music and vote on its right to exist in 1930's Russia. Kostia argues that since it stems from oppressed black people, jazz is therefore revolutionary music for the proletariat. He can't make it on his own as a pianist, so he enlists two street musicians to the cause. Their antics land them in jail where they meet Ivan, former saxophonist for the Imperial Court. Ivan hasn't a clue about jazz, and their first quartet rehearsal is a hilarious disaster of frustration, hostility and near mayhem. The quartet's misadventures as they go from street performers to sophisticated white tie and tails in Moscow make them so lovable that you want to cheer when they hit the big time.”A disarming, charming venture filled with mirth and music.” – Variety