
Believe It or Not
1983

Representation Score
Minimal
1955
Director
Anatoliy Granik
Runtime
94 minutes
Average Rating
No ratings yetNew Showbiz Analysis
Maksim Perepelitsa is a product of mid-century Soviet cinema, emphasizing communal cohesion and traditional social archetypes. The comedy serves to reinforce, rather than disrupt, the existing social structures of the time. The film's structure is heavily focused on traditional masculinity and state-aligned narratives. While it provides specific regional flavor through its Ukrainian setting, it does so within a framework of unified Soviet identity. Ultimately, the film operates as a period piece reflecting the institutional constraints of 1955. It offers little room for challenging traditional gender, identity, or power dynamics.
Category Breakdown
The film does not include any LGBTQ+ characters or stories that challenge the assumption that everyone is straight or cisgender. The main character is a mischievous young man in a military setting, which emphasizes traditional social roles.
The story focuses on a male protagonist's journey through military service. Female characters seem limited, likely playing supportive or domestic roles typical of the era's masculine archetypes.
The setting includes a Ukrainian village and the Russian Army, highlighting specific regional identities used to promote a unified Soviet identity rather than exploring diverse ethnic backgrounds.
The narrative emphasizes communal duty and state service within a village and military context. It reinforces the social order of the mid-century Soviet era.
There are no visible or mentioned depictions of physical or neurodivergent disabilities in the film.
Present on Screen
Limited or Absent
Official Synopsis
Maxim Perepelitsa is a cheerful, mischievous and resourceful young man from a Ukrainian village. He loves to make up stories and invent practical jokes. When he is drafted into the Russian Army, he doesn't stop his antics.

1983

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1956
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