Russian movies are a type of art, and most people agree that choosing the best items of any type of art is largely a matter of opinion. That said, there are many Russian movies that can be considered the best because of technical skill, historical value, or the story being told. One way to choose the best movies of this type is to look at various lists that identify movies certain people like, particularly if you have had success with the opinions of a particular reviewer in the past. Movies that win various awards are also often considered the best Russian movies, which can help narrow down the field. Truly, the best way to choose the best Russian movies is to do research, rent out movies, and develop a personal sense of which movies you like best.
One way to narrow down the best Russian movies is to think about directors and actors you like. There are many famous Russian directors and actors, and the work of these artists tends to be of predictable quality. In many cases, the best artists are the most famous artists, but some independent Russian directors also make movies of artistic merit.
Broad categories of Russian films can also be used to narrow down the best of this genre. For example, Russian animation has a long history and includes many works that stand out even in an international context. A wide variety of animation styles have been used in Russian movies of this type, and many of these films have historical value. Russian animators also often work on films that are not in Russian.
Historical movies often express sentiments of the times in which they were made and can therefore be considered historically valuable even when the cinematography is not stunning. Political films, for example, are often considered particularly interesting examples of Russian cinema. Even movies that do not explicitly expound political values often express the general climate of the country in which they were made.
Many Russian films are examples of great storytelling, but what makes a compelling story is a matter of opinion. For example, there are many excellent Russian romances and horror films. When looking for the best Russian movies that have compelling stories and excellent cinematography, choosing films that have had success in international film festivals can be a good strategy. By looking at films that succeed internationally, you ensure that the movie is compelling on a human level and that the value of the film is not specific to any given culture.
