Little Vera

This Russian import has been doing steady business in art film houses nationwide, and one suspects that it's because the story centers on a rebellious teenager in Russia, rather than for its intrinsic merits as a film. The fact that Natalya Negoda, who plays the title character, made the cover of Playboy probably didn't hurt either. Set in a small town, the plot follows Vera's dissatisfaction with her parents (her father drinks, her mother whines), and with her boyfriend who's going off to sea. When she meets Sergei, he announces his intention to marry her, and moves in with the family. Conflicts between Sergei and Vera's father arise almost immediately, and eventually erupt in violence. Little Vera is no great feast for the eyes, with its grainy film stock and hand-held camera shots. And the much lauded Negoda finally begins to grate on one's nerves with her overacted pouting and shrill tantrums. On the other hand, this is surely a bold film to come out of the U.S.S.R. And, for its uniqueness in that respect, the video is recommended for larger foreign collections. (R. Pitman)