Watch Welcome, or No Trespassing
- 1964
- 1 hr 14 min
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7.9 (3,370)
Welcome, or No Trespassing is a 1964 Soviet comedy film directed by Elem Klimov. The movie tells the story of a group of children at a Soviet summer camp who try to outsmart their strict and overbearing caretakers in order to have some fun and adventure. The movie is set during the Soviet Union's Khrushchev era when the government built summer camps as a way to keep children occupied during the holidays. The premise of the movie is a part of the Soviet Union's extensive propaganda about socialism and the collective society. In this particular camp, there is an extremely strict set of rules laid down by the caretakers that are meant to structure the children's time to a level of precision approaching that of the military. The rules are meant to enforce discipline and ensure that the children learn important skills while they are there.
However, the group of children, instead of following their schedules and participating in the scheduled activities, long for the freedom to have some fun and do things on their own. They come up with a plan to outsmart the camp's caretakers, and flout the rules. They succeed in their plan and manage to have a lot of fun, but not without getting into trouble.
The film is a satire of the Soviet system, specifically the oppressive bureaucracy and the constant surveillance that was so much a part of everyday life in those times. The children's desire to break the rules and have some fun represents the desire for freedom that pervaded Soviet life. It shows how the rigid rules and regulations could often suppress creativity and individualism. The depiction of the camp's caretakers was a reflection of the Soviet authorities, who were seen as tyrannical and controlling.
The children in the movie are portrayed with immense charm and innocence. The characters are believable, and their antics genuinely funny. The young actors were all very talented, and their performances were quite impressive. The director did a great job of capturing the feel of a children's summer camp and portraying the fun and excitement that is an essential part of the growing up process.
Overall, Welcome, or No Trespassing is a hilarious and enjoyable film, with a clever satirical take on the Soviet system. It is a heartwarming story that appeals to people of all ages. The movie remains popular in Russia and has become a classic of Soviet cinema. Anyone who enjoys comedies and satirical films will surely appreciate this one.
Welcome, or No Trespassing is a 1964 comedy with a runtime of 1 hour and 14 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.9.