When someone is abroad, he cannot help but compare his culture, traditions, national character with a foreign mentality. One shocks us and seems unacceptable, the other surprises us and seems interesting. At the same time, we learn about the existence of a series of opinions that, when added together, form such a complex image of our culture that we did not even know about. As accurately noted spanish writer Fernando Díaz-Plaja, “you can’t see the forest for the trees”, and “an overabundance of details deprives the picture of perspective.” In my opinion, what is in abundance in the West is the negative opinion about Russia and its inhabitants. It is enough to look at the headlines in the Western press to understand that the anti-Russian hysteria is spreading more and more. In Western films, Russians are portrayed as intruders, mafia members, and spies. Do these stereotypes about Russia, spread abroad, correspond to reality?
Russians drink a lot of vodka
Let's start with perhaps the most common stereotype, according to which all Russians drink vodka like water. Indeed, vodka is the most traditional alcoholic drink in the country, but this does not mean that all Russian citizens abuse it. Many of my friends have never even tasted vodka, and there is nothing strange about that.
According to a study conducted by IWSR ((International Wine and Spirits Research) in 2014, the country with the highest consumption of alcohol in the world is China. It accounts for about 27.5% of the global alcoholic beverages market, followed by the United States with a consumption level of about 12.5% and Brazil (5.7%) In this list, Russia ranks only fourth (5.2%), followed by Germany (4.6%). about the fact that citizens of Russia who have drunk vodka roam, staggering through the streets. Russian tradition, which, according to popular belief, is in our blood. This social problem which is prevalent primarily among the poor. In 2006, the Russian government tightened control over the consumption of alcoholic beverages by raising tariffs and restricting the sale of alcohol. According to experts, these measures have led to a reduction in alcohol consumption by about a third. The next task of the state is to reduce the average consumption of alcohol from 15.76 liters per person per year to three by 2023.
But it should be noted that there is another drink that Russians love to drink. This is tea. More than 90% of Russians drink it, according to a 2014 RosIndex study conducted by the international research company Synovate Comcon. We drink tea at breakfast, in the afternoon, before meals, or simply to keep warm. Whereas in many other countries people arrange to meet friends at a bar for a beer or something stronger, in Russia we often agree to go out for tea. If you are invited to visit Russia, you can be sure that you will definitely be offered a cup of tea.
Every Russian in the house has a Kalashnikov assault rifle
IN Hollywood films about Russia, you can often see strong guys armed to the teeth with a Kalashnikov assault rifle in their hands. Usually, we are talking about the militants. But recently I saw the film Bad Moms, which made me laugh a lot, among other things, because of the image of the Russian mother presented there. “I have 300 Kalashnikov pistols at home,” the aforementioned mother admits at a school meeting. Although the creator of the world-famous AK-47 semi-automatic rifle, Mikhail Kalashnikov, is Russian, you don't often see his invention in our homes.
Russian men are mafia members
After the collapse of the Soviet Union, the Russian mafia reached its apogee, thanks to the confusion during the transition to market economy. It was during this period that organized crime got its tentacles into many areas of business, which led to murders, money laundering, blackmail, drug trafficking and human trafficking, prostitution. As the new political system, most representatives criminal gangs were behind bars or neutralized. But the stereotype that many men in Russia live outside the law remained with foreigners.
For example, the ten most common concepts associated with Russia among US residents include communism, the KGB, and the mafia. The only positive concepts (culture and art) were mentioned in last turn, according to the results of a sociological survey conducted in 2007. At the end of last year, a number of Spanish media outlets published an audio recording where a judge states that "many representatives of Russian youth are members of the mafia." The existence of this stereotype is also confirmed by the statements of Russian immigrants who share their memories in in social networks. For example, one girl who now lives in the United States says that when she studied at high school, her classmates refused to visit her, thinking that her father was connected to the mafia.
Myths about Russian women: blondes, hardened housewives, fortune hunters
The image of a Russian woman consists of a large number of positive and negative clichés. It is believed that Russia is the birthplace of true beauties. In my opinion, the stereotype about the beauty of Russian women arose due to the fact that we like (although not all of us) to be feminine: to walk in heels, to put on makeup. Recognized as a standard abroad female beauty are subtle facial features of the Slavic type, high growth, blonde hair. I cannot but say that I like this stereotype, although at the same time I consider it wrong. Beautiful women are found in all parts of the world. I don't want to disappoint blonde lovers, but the predominant hair color in Russia is chestnut and blond, and light golden hair is more common in Scandinavian countries.
In China, it is believed that after the birth of a child, women in Russia quit their jobs forever and devote themselves entirely to family and household chores. They are engaged only in cooking, gain weight and lose their beauty. But the fact that the family continues to be a priority for Russian women does not mean at all that we give up all other activities. On the contrary, women in Russia devote a lot of time to education and advanced training.
Abroad they often say: "You have to keep an eye on the Russians, they are dangerous." We are accused of hunting foreign millionaires. Where did this stereotype come from? Maybe we will get the answer to this question by asking some foreign millionaire why he wants to marry a Russian girl, or maybe not. On this occasion, we can only say that hunters (and hunters) for other people's fortune have existed at all times and all over the world, and I assure you that most Russian girls will not singe their eyelashes to catch a millionaire in the net.
Russia - the real "Winterfell"
When foreigners find out that I am Russian, most of them ask me: “How do you live there in such a cold?” or “Do you ever wear summer clothes?” I can assure you that the cold myth does not apply to all seasons. Russia is a country that stretches for many kilometers on the vast Eurasian continent, and the climate there is different: from hot and arid in southeast Asia to polar cold in Siberia.
The most densely populated climatic zone - from Moscow to St. Petersburg - has a humid continental climate, which is reflected in relatively low temperatures in winter (from -25°C to -35°C), while in summer the thermometer can rise to 25°C and even reach 35°C.
Is it possible to go outside at 25° below zero? Yes. We dress well and go out for walks, skating and skiing. If someone wants to feel the real cold, burning the skin, not allowing you to open your eyes, as in Winterfell in famous series"Game of Thrones", I advise you to go to the city of Verkhoyansk in Siberia - the coldest locality on the globe where temperatures rarely rise above -40°C in winter. The lowest temperature recorded in this place was -67.8°C in 1885.
Russians are unfriendly
According to foreign tourists, we are poorly educated, unsociable and hostile. Let me make a couple of arguments in our defence. In principle, we usually do not smile at strangers out of politeness, which from the outside may seem like a manifestation of distrust. For this reason, and also due to the fact that many Russians aged do not speak foreign languages(Young people tend to learn different languages), in some cases we try to avoid contact with foreigners, because we are afraid of not understanding what they are saying, and not because we are unfriendly. But after the contact is established, the Russians are very hospitable. We love to host guests at home and treat them with everything we have.
Do you know any stereotypes about Russia? Do you know if this is a myth or reality?
It should be understood that Russia is a country with an area of 17 million square kilometers, where about 146 million people live, more than 160 different nationalities, therefore it is impossible to use the term "Russians" in relation to all.
Come to our country, get acquainted with it and judge us for yourself.
Foreign travelers who visited our state considered Russia a wild and barbarous country, with a harsh and cold climate, located somewhere on the edge of the earth. So far have a large number There is an opinion among foreigners that bears roam calmly around Russian cities, and life in cities practically freezes in winter.
No one will deny the fact that when it comes to Russia, almost all foreigners agree on a certain mystery and inexplicability of Rossini's "Russian soul".
In his book A.V. Sergeeva “Russians. Stereotypes of behavior, traditions, mentality” quotes Churchill, who said about Russia: “This is a puzzle wrapped in a mystery inside a riddle.” Very accurately, A.V. Sergeeva defines the attitude of foreigners to everything Russian: “as “foreign” - it is not exotic enough, but as “ours” - alien and incomprehensible.”
Here is how, for example, D. Lewis says about the amazingness of Russian culture: “The culture that raised Chekhov, Tchaikovsky, Rachmaninov, Tolstoy, Peter the Great and Alexander Nevsky simply could not disappear short period political oppression and hard, exhausting labor. The individuality of this culture was forced to go underground and wait for time to survive, but the Russian soul is immortal like no other. Its revival and development in the XXI century. are of great importance to the rest of the world."
At present, it is very common to hear that many stereotypes that have formed: excessive collectivism, apathy, suspicion of foreigners, pessimism, petty cheating, work in fits and starts, Russians withdrawing into themselves are the result of a 70-year communist regime, however, in reality, everything it was not a product of the Bolshevik regime. Russia was a communist state for 70 years, and Orthodox Russia has existed for 1000 years. The main features of the Russian character emerged hundreds of years before the birth of Lenin or Stalin. It was easy for both the tsarist and Soviet regimes to control people due to the fact that they were prone to collectivism, humility, self-sacrifice and patience.
The Russian character is shaped to some extent by a ruthless authoritarian regime and rule over many centuries, but the two main factors in the formation of Russian values and indigenous beliefs remain constant under any rule - the vast expanses of Russia and the unchanging harshness of its climate.
Influence natural conditions on the way of life of Russian tribes we read from S.M. Solovyov: “Long before the beginning of our chronology, the famous Greek, who is called the father of history, visited the current southern Russia: with a true look, he looked at our country, at the tribes living in it, and wrote in his immortal book that these tribes lead a way of life, which the nature of the country indicated to them. Many centuries passed, several times the tribes were replaced by one another, a powerful state was formed; but the phenomenon noticed by Herodotus still remains in force: the course of events is constantly subject to natural conditions.
Thus, historical, climatic, social features The way of life of Russians was determined by such stereotypes as collectivism, hospitality, cordiality.
The attitude of Russians towards collectivity, the constant looking back at “what other people will say and think about them,” explains the behavior of Russians. So, for example, such settings make behavior in in public places almost gallant: men open the door for ladies, shake hands when exiting public transport, give way to a seat in transport. Russians do not understand the European manner of “not noticing” something unpleasant, which does not correspond to the norms of behavior and morality, not to react to it with either a look or an action. For Russians, it is considered a matter of honor to actively intervene, comment, correct the situation. Inaction in an inappropriate situation is regarded as a sign of cowardice, indifference and selfishness, which is traditionally considered bad in Russia. human qualities. The desire to empathize, to participate in the lives of close people, the readiness to always come to the rescue determines such a stereotype as cordiality and hospitality.
The feeling of collectivism also gave rise to another important stereotype, namely the desire of Russians to “be like everyone else” and not stand out from the general background. The dissolution of the individual in the team, on the one hand, of course, gives rise to a sense of comradeship and moral comfort. But, on the other hand, it can give rise to an irresponsible attitude towards anything. Very often this leads to the manifestation of collective aggression towards people with a bright personality.
If Russians are characterized by a sense of collectivism, group cohesion, as A.V. Sergeeva rightly noted, “Russia did not experience a Renaissance, the idea of the uniqueness of each person did not attract much attention in Russian culture.”
10 interesting facts about Russians from the point of view of Americans
Sometimes it's good to take a look at yourself
The opinion of most Americans about Russia is based on stereotypes generated by the Cold War: for example, they seriously believe that winters in Russia are unimaginably cold, and harsh Russian people drink a lot of vodka.
Recently Americans amounted to a list of a few more aspects of our culture, and we have tried to translate it for you as literally as possible. Remember - it was written by the Americans. 1. Confusing city names
Many people know that in Soviet time the names of some Russian cities were changed in accordance with the ideology of the existing state regime, for example, St. Petersburg was called Leningrad for a while, and then was renamed St. Petersburg again. The names of many streets were also changed, which, after leaving Soviet power brought back the old names. This has led to confusion, especially for tourists trying to navigate their way through major cities.
Worse still, in cities in Lately Was built a large number of apartment buildings, and they all look pretty much the same. Citizens of Russia themselves are so often confused among similar areas that this formed the basis of a comedy about how someone mistakenly got into someone else's apartment, mistaking it for his own.
2. Poaching
For a long time, the problem of poaching in Russia did not exist at all, however, since the collapse of the Soviet Union in Russia, cases of poaching have increased dramatically. main goal poachers is the Amur tiger, although other animals are also illegally hunted. It is believed that the decline in the Amur tiger population was mainly due to poachers.
Unfortunately, the problem is primarily related to the budget: very little money is allocated to forestries and hunting farms, which hinders the protection of animals, especially given the huge Russian territories that should be controlled. According to statistics, dozens of cases of poaching occur in Russia every year.
3. Hackers
Perhaps Russia boasts the largest number of hackers in the world, and some of them are professionals. Most of the pirated content on the web is available in Russian, primarily because it is Russian pirates who post content online for free download. For those who want legal compensation for the theft of their product, it is extremely difficult to prosecute those who live in another country.
However, the activities of hackers are not limited to the Internet. Most ATMs on the streets of Russia are hacked, and travelers are warned in advance to use only secure safes in closely monitored hotels.
4. Prison
Many have heard of the infamous Gulag in Russia - Joseph Stalin used this camp to punish people for almost everything he didn't like, as well as a useful, well-oiled system of slave labor. However, even today there are some incredibly strict prisons in Russia, one of the worst being known as the Black Dolphin.
The conditions in such prisons are unimaginably harsh, and they are intended only for the most cruel people who should not be allowed to live in a normal society: terrorists, murderers and cannibals. Yes, cannibals. one film crew they didn't let him into the prison to talk to a guy who boiled his victims and then ate them. Another prisoner explained that killing his son-in-law was a perfectly reasonable move, as his daughter had trouble sleeping because of him.
5. Walruses
In Russia there are groups called "walruses", mostly composed of men - they swim in ice water almost without clothes, and then go out into the snow. This activity will seem completely insane to most people, but the Russians claim that such bathing is good for health and helps with diseases such as arthritis or rheumatism, and is also an excellent hangover cure, although most walruses avoid drugs or alcohol.
One of the walruses boasts that his blood pressure is like that of an astronaut, and believes that swimming in cold water incredibly helpful. This person does nothing else for his health - he just throws himself into ice water every morning.
6. Winter holidays
In many countries of the world, Christmas is considered the most important holiday. Even if you are not a Christian, you at least give gifts and also participate in all other aspects of the holiday. However, in Russia everything is done a little differently: Christmas itself is not celebrated as a holiday - those for whom this date is important simply attend church and spend some time there.
On the other hand, Russians have their own New Year's counterpart to Santa Claus named Ded Moroz. New Year celebrated all over the country - this is a kind of Soviet version of Christmas. In addition, Russians drink a lot of alcohol on New Year's Eve, although depending on marital status Might as well celebrate Christmas. The Russians are waiting for the midnight battle Kremlin clock This marks the arrival of the New Year.
7. Kvass
Kvass is a popular Russian drink made from the fermentation of bread. Although it is considered non-alcoholic, it still contains 1% alcohol, in many places such a drink would not be considered non-alcoholic. Like beer, it is usually drunk cold and is sometimes flavored with strawberries or raisins.
However, you may be surprised that alcoholic drink is sold as freely as Coca-Cola, and is used in last years huge popularity. It can be easily found on sale bottled in two-liter plastic bottles.
8. Vladimir Putin
Many people in the West talk about Russian leader Vladimir Putin as a terrible tyrant-dictator who tightens the screws. However, despite the Western media's opinion, Putin is actually incredibly popular in Russia. Although we would not call Putin for real good guy, most of Russia still approves of it.
Unfortunately for Putin, this cannot last forever. Some experts believe that since there is no economic growth in Russia, people are starting to lose faith in the current leadership, and Putin's power may be starting to wane.
9. Bribery
While it may not surprise you that bribery is rampant in Russia, you will surely be surprised to learn that this phenomenon goes far beyond simply bribing a government official. Bribery is used by the most different people and is an ingrained Russian tradition. Corruption has become such a problem that to combat it, special laws though the battle is still far from won.
For example, in Russia it is illegal to drive a car through a cemetery. However, if the weather is bad or you are not in the best shape, then a long walk can turn into a big problem. The taxi driver will be willing to risk breaking the law and look the other way - for the right price. It is even easier in Russia to use the services of one of the many unofficial taxi drivers. Just know that this is, firstly, not entirely safe, and secondly, you will probably be deceived a little.
10. Superstition
Russians are very superstitious people and have established strange customs. For example, if you give someone as a gift what money is usually stored in (purse), you need to put money there, otherwise you will bring financial trouble to the person.
Russians will also return for an item that they forgot when leaving the house, only if they really need this item, but if they have to do this, then they consider it obligatory to look in the mirror. Many mothers refuse to show their baby to anyone in the first month of his life for fear that someone might jinx him out of envy.
Most Russian students before the exam wish each other something similar to the Western "break a leg" - "no fluff, no feather", to which it is customary to answer "to hell" to avoid bad luck. It may not sound like much, but our "break your leg" probably doesn't make much sense either.
What do foreigners think about Russia? How has their opinion of us changed? Which stereotypes remain stable, and which, years later, have long been dispelled, like dust from “white apples”? ...
I. "Russian law is not written"
We have been used to this for a long time. However, foreigners about life in our country still say something like this:
“Surprisingly, for these Russians, not following the rules seems to be the absolute norm.”
And indeed it is. For them, on the contrary, compliance with any rules is considered the norm, even if there is no control nearby and close.
It is inconceivable in their opinion that the Russians without the slightest doubt cross the road at a red light, only because, according to their calculations, it is still quite far from the entrance of a moving car.
II. "Russians totally drink"
IN Western world There is a persistent stereotype that our nation is incredibly drunk. Everyone talks about it to one degree or another. But meanwhile, if we turn to the official WHO statistics, Russia will take not the first, not the second, or even the third place in terms of alcohol consumption per each of its inhabitants. In this matter, even the restrained Balts overtook us.
At the same time, foreigners are sincerely surprised that in our country there can be absolutely any reason for drinking, and the process that began with the idea of \u200b\u200bsitting "a little" almost always develops into a full-scale table.
The most striking difference between Russians and residents of foreign countries is that Russians, in a tipsy state, “get smarter” and begin to conduct active, highly intellectual conversations.
Talk about politics, the meaning of life, and just philosophize, while all the other nations in the world, on the contrary, drunk recklessly stupid, brag, lie and tell a series of fictional stories.
III. “There is no feminism in Russia”
With this stereotype, unlike the previous ones, everything is exactly the opposite. Foreigners love it very much.
Men from abroad openly dream of choosing a Russian woman as their wife, since most Americans, Europeans and other representatives of the weaker sex are trying to prove their mythical “independence” with them.
They scare men with the lack of elementary femininity, pay for themselves in restaurants, react painfully if they are helped to open the door, do not understand why they shake hands, or simply sit in their chair.
Such representatives, when creating a family, are guided primarily by material considerations, they are in a hurry to make marriage contract, and even choose the first question on a date:
"What do you do for a living?".
Of course, the foreigners are running from them as fast as they can.
Our women, on the contrary, like to appear weak, although in fact they are the strongest. Thanks to this, even an American in our country feels like a man much more than in his own homeland.
From here, in general, the above stereotype went.
IV. “Russians have an incredible culture”
This is a true template, which has more than a monolithic justification.
Mostly foreign excursion groups from abroad visit St. Petersburg and Moscow, and it is there that the most famous Russian sights are located. In this regard, it is not surprising that everyone speaks with enthusiasm about the Hermitage, winter palace, Tretyakov Gallery, Intercession Cathedral and Red Square.
Another thing is surprising: for some reason, many guests are extremely amazed that people of absolutely all ages go to museums and galleries in Russia. Often you can meet young couples in them, and for Americans, with their pop-corn and Mickey Mouse culture, this is simply an inexplicable problem...
The love of Russians and their craving for reading completely amazes everyone who comes to us, because neither a tablet nor a modern smartphone could beat it off.
V. “Russians have a strange relationship with food”
Foreigners very often talk about life in Russia, remembering dumplings, borscht, pancakes with meat and caviar. In this regard, Russia seems to them a wealthy power. This conclusion stems from the fact that all feasts in our country are held on a grand scale, and always remain so, regardless of the occasion and financial situation.
It is not clear to an American why it is so important for a Russian person to make the table with dishes with all kinds of salads, cucumbers, tomatoes, cheese and sausage cuts, fried chicken legs and other food.
But those who are more familiar with Russia are already aware that the Russian will invest and give everything he has for the sake of the guest's convenience. And what is most surprising, he will do this not in order to impress, but first of all for himself, and from the heart for those whom he receives.
Of course, in this situation, it seems strange for a foreigner that after such a feast the organizer may well remain in his last shirt, but even so, he will not be scared and still go for it.
VI. "Russians never smile"
Almost all foreign guests remember kind words our sincere Russian hospitality, but at the same time, they consider us serious and gloomy. They think that our harsh climate is to blame. That is why, they say, on the street you can see rarely smiling men, women, youth, or old people.
But the strange thing for them is that the situation changes dramatically, one has only to turn to the Russians for advice. If you ask a question, enter their social circle, or meet the person the next day, then for some inexplicable reason, the sullenness disappears.
“Why can’t you smile from the very beginning?” they ask with incomprehension. And the “tolerant” people do not realize that in Russia such an approach is called insincere, and an empty smile without real feelings and a damned egg is not worth it.
VII. "This mysterious Russian mentality"
Any European or American in Russia has to adapt. For example, to the fact that the Russians for some reason constantly keep all sorts of unnecessary things. “They say that this is in case when something, it will be possible to fix something,” and this fact raises even more questions among Americans.
They do not understand why the Russians (unlike the modern western man), learn to "be able" to do everything at once? And we really can be professionals in completely different areas. Every man, regardless of the type of activity, is able to hold a power tool in his hands, work with the construction of a house, be his own cook, or make and repair everything in a row. For a foreigner, this state of affairs seems the height of absurdity.
“Why be prepared for anything when you can always call the service, or the rescue service ?!”
And the "comrades" do not understand that in real life, such an opportunity may not always turn up.
But main feature Russian people, which to the extreme amazes the guests who come to our country - this is the wide and mysterious soul of Russia.
To be always ready to help, to provide this assistance free of charge, not to evaluate the substituted shoulder in money equivalent, all this for the Western layman is still inexplicable and completely incomprehensible from beginning to end ...
Even in modern films Russian special agents often look and act like they've been transported back in time straight from the KGB. " cold war”is still widely covered in the cinema, and against the backdrop of modern tense relations between the United States and Russia, it is becoming more and more relevant.
The painting "Red Sparrow" tells about the confrontation between Russian and American intelligence. The action seems to take place in our time, but Russia, judging by the film, is stuck in the Soviet Union completely and irrevocably.
Jennifer plays a ballerina Bolshoi Theater, which, before entering the stage during the premiere, is baptized and bows three times to the earth.
Due to the jealousy of the rival and the injury, the career of the heroine Lawrence collapses.
After that, she is recruited as a spy by her own uncle, an intelligence agent. And here again begins a set of stereotypes about merciless Russian spies, most of whom prefer to brutally kill any witness. The heroine Lawrence undergoes tough training in a special school. The curator, an elderly woman, dressed in boots, seems to be from the time of the Great Patriotic War, teaches her that the agent's body "belongs to the state, since the state used to take care of his body." “In order for peace to come, we must again stand at the head of nations,” says the former KGB officer, now the SVR.
True, there are attempts in modern foreign cinema to portray Russian ordinary people and not grotesque demons.
Columbia Pictures Actors Jason Statham and Rade Sherbedzija in " big jackpot» (2000)
In 2015, Guy Ritchie's film "Agents of A.N.K.L." was released, where one of the main characters is the youngest and most promising special agent of the KGB - Ilya Kuryakin. Tall, silent and formidable in appearance, the owner of the fourth dan in judo is not without intelligence.
The "Russian Bear" hardly drinks, instead he plays chess with himself and utters only one swear word throughout the film.
Moreover, it turns out that soviet man able to understand the latest fashion trends. When in the store Kuryakin selects a wardrobe for the German spy Gabby, he names all the most famous brands clothes from the 60s. To the remark of the American Napoleon Solo that “Dior and Paco Rabanne do not match”, he confidently declares that “they should not match” and continues to select the right belt for the dress.
Photo report: What is your evidence: 10 films with bad Russians
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However, Ilya Kuryakin is a pleasant exception from a number of cinematic KGB agents. Usually they are stubborn, huge, gloomy people who believe that clothes are only brown or black.
Such an embodiment of the “red threat” in the cinema was, for example, KGB Colonel Rosa Klebb, who defected to the side of the villainous organization “SPECTRE” in the film “From Russia with Love”. A woman with an impenetrable face does everything to play off Russian and British intelligence. At the end of the picture, Klebb tries to kill agent 007 with a poisoned knife that pops out of her boot, but she is shot by a Bond girl named , an employee of the Soviet consulate.
"But the bells are ringing in Rus'"
The most popular role of Russians in Western films, apart from spies, is villains. Sometimes these are not individual criminals, but entire mafia clans or gangs.
The film "Vice for Export" tells about the life of Russian thieves in law in London. Main character Nikolai Luzhin (plays), a member of the Russian mafia, wears typical thieves' tattoos: Orthodox domes on his back, stars on his knees, the inscription "Don't be afraid, don't ask, don't believe", as well as 12 tattoos in which Russian proverbs are encrypted.
We must pay tribute to the make-up artists - the tattoos are realistic, and most importantly, the words in them are written in Cyrillic correctly, which Western directors do not always pay attention to.
One of the characters in the film explains sacred meaning thieves' tattoos: “In Russia, you get a tattoo if you've committed a sin. The whole history of the Russian bandit can be read by the tattoos on his body. If you don't have tattoos, you don't exist." Everything is so, if you do not take into account the fact that even the fashion for prison tattoos changes over time, and domes on the back have long been not such an obligatory attribute of a Russian bandit.
The head of the Russian mafia clan Semyon runs his own restaurant, the interior of which combines the chic of the Soviet nomenclature and elements of the Russian hut. So in the corner of the entertainment establishment there is a stuffed bear, on the tables there are samovars, and, of course, in this restaurant all the mafiosi drink without respite, without having a snack.
The iconic Russian villain is heavyweight boxer Ivan Drago (played in Rocky 4). He personifies Soviet Union as the Americans imagined it at the time. A real mountain man, unemotional, mysterious and deadly. In the story, Drago beats his friend Rocky to death in a boxing match, and he challenges him. The fight is scheduled in Moscow, and Rocky comes to Russia to train.
Universal Pictures GAZ-3110 Volga in pursuit from The Bourne Identity (2002)
The American is settled in some distant village, where there are no normal simulators. Then Rocky, in the fierce Russian winter, pulls logs, chop wood and helps to pull a horse-drawn sleigh out of the high snow, and in this way he prepares for battle. As a result, Rocky defeats the Russian Drago, and then picks up a microphone and calls on the USSR and the USA to live together. The audience applauds him in tenderness.
By the way, Ivan Drago and the hero of "Red Heat" are incredibly similar: both Ivans have prominent square chins, they are silent and speak in fragmentary phrases of robots, and they also beat opponents with bearish strength.
In the film "Rocky 4" the main Russian villain was played by an American of Swedish origin, but our actors are often attracted to such roles.
Yes, in American film"Behind enemy lines" in 2001, the main antagonist - the thug Sasha - plays. Sasha - the owner of a typical gopnik hairstyle and a blue jacket with two white stripes - hunts an American lieutenant during the Bosnian War. At the end of the film, he dies at the hands of an American soldier.
Another "Russian villain" Mashkov played in the film "Mission: Impossible: Ghost Protocol", in the very one where the Kremlin was "blown up". The Russian agent this time appears in front of us in a black leather jacket, which he apparently saved from the dashing nineties.
The drunkest country in the world
You can count on the fingers of one hand Western films in which Russian heroes do not drink vodka in astronomical quantities, demonstrating their steadfastness and strength of character. Only crazy Russians drink it in foreign films, sometimes their foreign friends join them, but only if they themselves are very strong personalities.
So, in the action movie "RED", the hero comes to the Russian embassy to the head of counterintelligence (there is a feeling that Ivan is the most popular name in Hollywood, not in Russia).
Here one cannot fail to recall the bizarre Russian coat of arms on the doors of the embassy: a single-headed eagle, looking to the left, holds a stick in each paw, and the coat of arms depicts a rider without a spear or a snake. Well, they tried.
The charming and completely intelligent head of counterintelligence seats the American guest at the table and cuts off the cap from a two-liter bottle with a knife. Friends drink without a snack, without grimacing, because they are both experienced wolves.
In an earlier film with Bruce Willis - "Armageddon" - all the classic and boring stereotypes about Russians are collected. According to the plot, the pilots are trying to dock with the Russian Mir station, which itself is in a semi-operational state. “Remember, the Russian space station is already 11 years old. We even change cars more often,” the dispatcher warns the astronauts.
United Artists Still from Goldeneye (1995)
Colonel Lev Andropov has been on duty on the Mir for a year and a half all alone. A drunken cosmonaut in a hat with earflaps, a T-shirt with a red star and the inscription "USSR" and with a wrench saves the situation by hitting the block with the tool with the words: "This is how it is customary to solve problems at the Russian station."
The feast necessarily appears where it is necessary to show the breadth of the Russian soul. It is not for nothing that strict and fit KGB officers almost never drink or eat in films, while arrogant and cheerful Russian villains, on the contrary, lounging on sofas, chatting and do not deny themselves anything.
During the meal, the heroes can sing folk song to further highlight their ties to Russia. For example, in the romantic comedy Heartbreakers, the main character, who lied to her lover that she was a Russian emigrant, had to prove her nationality. Her boyfriend takes her to dinner at a Russian restaurant, where samovars and bottles are on the tables, and on the stage a choir in red shirts performs folk songs. The singer calls the heroine to the stage, inviting her to sing “The Box” with the words: “There is no Russian in the world who would not know our box!”. The heroine, to her horror, does not know this song, but she beautifully gets out of the situation by performing the song “Back in USSR” with a strong Russian accent, leaning on the letter “r” in the words.
Another popular way to show Western viewers that there is a Russian hero in the film is to put on a cap with earflaps. This headdress is worn by the Russian spy from Red Sparrow, head of counterintelligence from RED, paired with a beaver collar, Ivan Danko in the famous Red Square scene. And sometimes the foreigners themselves in the films put on a hat with earflaps as soon as they arrive in Russia, as if otherwise they would not be allowed through passport control.
