Despite some good elements (e.g. The costume design and cinematography), I really expected to enjoy this a lot more.
Firstly, the score often felt really over the top, and the beginning a very rushed attempt at scene-setting (and where did the young Kristina acquire an American accent???).
Once it settles down, I started feeling "OK - it's not too bad" but then it would break into melodrama and/or further rushed scenes such that the pacing was very confusing. I don't know if the director shot 4 or 5 hours of footage and this is the result of some questionable editing, or if there is another reason, but it left me feeling that I wanted to see a better film about this very interesting character.
Firstly, the score often felt really over the top, and the beginning a very rushed attempt at scene-setting (and where did the young Kristina acquire an American accent???).
Once it settles down, I started feeling "OK - it's not too bad" but then it would break into melodrama and/or further rushed scenes such that the pacing was very confusing. I don't know if the director shot 4 or 5 hours of footage and this is the result of some questionable editing, or if there is another reason, but it left me feeling that I wanted to see a better film about this very interesting character.