Flashy cinematography, frenetic editing, and a pulsating techno score are the hallmarks of this Dutch comedy-drama about two Amsterdam ne'er-do-wells who support themselves by seducing vacationing young women before stealing their money and--as part of the game--ripping the identification pages from their passports to memorialize their conquests (the guys pin up the pictures in a makeshift shrine in their apartment). When Goof, the sweeter and more romantic of the duo, actually falls for one of the girls--a strange, worldly Russian expatriate named Lara (an ironic reference to Doctor Zhivago?)--and lobbies to use the stash they've collected to take her back to her Siberian homeland, his infuriated callous partner Hugo suggests a competition to decide which of them will keep the loot. But that's only the start of a series of twists that find all three parties using, misleading, and betraying one another. Siberia strives very hard to be clever and hip, but it's fatally weakened by the lead characters' lack of charm, which--together with the extravagantly florid style--leave the movie as emotionally frigid as the titular region. The fact that the dialogue vacillates between English and Dutch also has a curiously distancing effect. Optional. (F. Swietek)
Siberia
Home Vision, 87 min., in English & Dutch w/English subtitles, not rated, DVD: $24.95, Jan. 18 Volume 20, Issue 2
Siberia
Star Ratings
As of March 2022, Video Librarian has changed from a four-star rating system to a five-star one. This change allows our reviewers to have a wider range of critical viewpoints, as well as to synchronize with Google’s rating structure. This change affects all reviews from March 2022 onwards. All reviews from before this period will still retain their original rating. Future film submissions will be considered our new 1-5 star criteria.
Order From Your Favorite Distributor Today: