Stilyagi (also known as Hipsters in the English release) is a 2008 Russian romantic jukebox musical film directed by Valery Todorovsky and starring Anton Shagin and Oksana Akinshina. Set in mid-1950s Moscow, the film depicts the Soviet stilyagi subculture, along with their struggle for self-expression within the prevailing reality of the Soviet repression. Stilyagi has been featured at the Toronto International Film Festival, where it has been an audience favorite. It received generally positive reviews from critics. In Russia, it has become a cult film, as most of its score consists of covers of 1980s and 1990s Russian rock music from bands such as Bravo, Nautilus Pompilius, Nol and the Red Elvises. It spawned an interest in namesake subculture, with parts of it soon integrated in Russian youth fashion stream, as well as increased interest for musical instruments such as the saxophone and the trumpet among young Russian pop music producers. Starting in 2011, the film was also spun off into a musical concert which toured Europe and North America during the same year. In Russia, critics accused Hipsters of being anachronistic with regards to the historical events. Some say the movie has plot holes and an extended third act. One reviewer says the plot has multiple holes that wouldn't improve the narrative. Another reviewer says the third act is too long and that the movie would be more enjoyable if it ended 40 minutes earlier. One reviewer says that the writers could have created a straightforward love story, but instead chose to extend the third act. Vision said the film was "breezy, colourful and suffused with joy. Hipsters offers audiences an engaging Cold War musical told from the other side of the Iron Curtain. But what it also offers is boredom in the last 40 minutes until the 2nd last scene. This is when I thought the film would end on a serious note. When the movie gets too serious, the characters break out into song and dance. An attempt at Moulin Rouge!. A failed attempt!"

Excellent! Very well done and stylish movie... Great mix of drama, musical and reality. Very humanistic and full of love...

Who knew "a lavish, candy-colored musical set in Cold War Russia circa 1955" could be so much fun! Loved the music, the editing, everything about this. I could watch it all over again. The end was a real surprise. Every hipster at heart should see it....

I was unsure how the "Musical" portion of this film would work, but it rarely detracted from the film.

Colorful Russian musical goes on a bit too long but the performances, songs and dance numbers are very infectious.

I don't like musicals but I gave a chance to watch the candy-colored musical from Russia. There are so many problems that bother me in this movie that I can't enjoy it.

Fantastic Russian musical that takes place a few years after Stalin's death about the emergence of American-influenced hipsters. On par with American musicals like "Grease" and "Hair", and better than both in some ways, the photography and direction are beautifully matched to the rhythm and the acting is superb. This film was a huge hit in Russia, but Americans have seen it. I had the privilege of seeing it on the big screen via Austin Film Society. However you get a chance to see this, don't miss it. The Hipsters in the movie could even be a metaphor for the treatment of gays in Russia today. It works on so many levels.

Hairspray in the USSR; i.e., fun and bright, but with stakes. Visual candy, catchy tunes, Lovers in a Dangerous Time plot, and only a touch heavy-handed in its political statement. Wobbles toward the end, but how many musicals don't? Eye-opening work... I kind of loved it.

I borrowed this film from my local library, having never heard anything about it, but figuring since it was a musical, it was worth a shot. I got a lot more than I expected. Despite the subtitles, I really enjoyed it and thought the cinematography was fantastic. It's a little far-fetched, but... hello? It's a musical. That's kind of the point. Overall I had a really good time watching this movie.

Fun movie that is Russia's answer to such American classics as Hairspray, Footloose, Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, and the Elvis musicals. Although based on music from the States, it's still very Russian, even though it could only have been made now.

Bright, colorful, beautifully filmed. Great music, and a reasonably intelligent story that never breaks too far into either farce or melodrama. Excellent performances all the way around. Better musicals have been made, but not I think in the last two or three decades at least.

Great cinematography.

My Favorite Movie. I absolutely love this movie, there is nothing bad about it. I first saw it a few months ago at the Dryden theatre. It was fantastic, then I found it was not released in the US. The serch begain. Now I know every ductile by heart. If you don't know the plot already, look it up. Its the best music: 60s Rock and Roll. Even thigh it's in Russian, u don't notice. Every musical number makes you wanna dance and sing along. Whatever you do, see this movie!!!!!!

One of the best Russian films I have ever seen. Colors, acting, cinematography, camera work all top-notch. Great story about conformity and nationalism, one that could work equally as well here. Parts of it reminded me of the critique of English boarding schools done in Pink Floyd's The Wall. Brilliant social commentary with engaging characters, many tragicomic moments, and really tried to tie in the 1950's hipsters with all the social identity movements since. Only weakness... too long.

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Fun Russian musical about kids who rebel by adopting what they think is a hip American lifestyle of jazz and dancing and loud colorful clothing. One of their persecutors enters the fold, another leaves. Discoveries are made, songs are sung (though not as many as you might expect), lives change.

To start off with, I dislike musicals intensely. Also, I am not a fan of jazz. Add to this the fact that it is in Russian, a language which does not lend itself easily to musicals and bright imagery, and you have a movie which just grates me. The whole thing just tries too hard, seeming contrived.

I was hoping they're gonna have it in flixter. I'm stunned, so surprised Russians made THIS?! Damn, it's one of the best well done, well written movies I've seen lately. Incredible. The story, the direction, photography, MUSIC... Amazing.

A fun musical about Soviet culture that looks at the repression and conformity through as whimsical lens. Some great musical numbers and creative art direction really make the film a joy to watch.

Surprisingly good. I had no idea what I was about to watch but it ended up being a musical about young people growing up in the 50's in Russia. I normally hate musicals but watching this with subtitles made it tolerable.