Serko (2006)

Serko. Film review. Essentially, Serko is an coming-of-age story. I had forcibly being put to remembered Into the Wild and Dersu Uzala during the film. And as all coming-of-age story goes, the question of wether the film going to work or not, relies on a connection made between the leading dude (or dudette) with the audiences. He (or she) has to ascertained that his journey, his coming-of-age thingy matters. And in my opinion, although Serko built in a rather convolutedly straight manner (convoluted and straight weren't realy meant to be said on a same breath, but that was the best i can came up with to describe the film's pace and purpose), it manages to deliver on ocassions, a pleasant connection with your humble reviewer here. Finally, the second part of the film outweighs the first part as i was suddenly doesn't feel sleepy anymore at the certain minutes halfway around the film.

Dimitri is a yellow-bellied (coward) Cossack, and recieved no favor from his father, also a Cossack. His family lives on a far-Eastern side of Russia where they befriended a local tribe whom i figured for their relatively location that is close in proximity to China (or Mongolia) were speaks differently (still on a Russian roots, i persumed) albeit looking too Chinese (or Mongol) to my eyes. When a tragedy befell on one of Dimitri's local friend, a tragedy which could be attributed to the Governor ruled the area, Dimitri sets up his mind to demand justice from the Tsar himself, all the way in St.Petersburg, 6500 miles away, on a horse (his friend's horse which he would later named Serko), in a winter, alone. It was 1889.

The story of Dimitri and Serko was narrated by Fragonad a travelling 'ambassador of Paris culture', a shadow-puppeteer and storyteller whom had had cold reception from its audience ones too many to actually give a damn but still lives on an illusion of famous. He told us, the audience, that he would eventually going to meet Dimitri. So, there's no surprise there. It must be noted though, that the second part (one that i feel outweighed the first) begins when Dimitri and Serko finally meet with this travelling 'ambassador'.

One main conception i had about Russia, was that it would seems the land of Mother Russia is forever coated in white as perpetual snow, winter all the year, were all that responsible in giving me a reflexive shiver as if in a cold wind whenever i heard about Russia. Now i'm never been to Russia, and i'm sure it had a pleasant (if not hot) Summer. But for the time being, Russia means winter to me. This cold is, after all, was how Hitler's army was defeated in Stalingaard.

In term of cinematography, though i was far from being a film technical-savvy person, Serko wasn't lacking of any 'wow' moments. There's this really huge frozen lake, a magnamous nature refrigerator that sort of remind me to Dersu Uzala (as i've mentioned earlier). But the difference was that i could actually shivered in a room temperature while watching Dersu Uzala, the only shivers i had during Serko was because of the theater's air conditioning.

On a last note, one could really argue who is the leading dude in this story. Was it Dimitri? A young, yellow-bellied, but newly determined? Or was it Serko? A loyal steer to his man? Never complains, or shown any restrain. The way i see it, Serko here was a solid rock on a fast current to Dimitri. It was his only friend for nearly 200 days of his journey after all and if anything, it was heartbreaking to see these two finally get separated. But essentially, this is an coming-of-age story. It is clearly known who was the one who needed to grow. Dimitri bade farewell to his past, undergone a long, unfriendly journey, and when he's coming back, he was a totally different persona. That was, in essential, an coming-of-age story.

This has been a part of French Film Festival in Indonesia