From Russia, With Style

Mels, with his orderly haircut and pressed suits, is what you would call a "square." In Russia, however, he's a valued member of the young communists party, and as such is kind of a big deal. He helps to break up a stilyagi gathering as part of his young communist duties, and suddenly finds his life looks rather gray and dismal when compared to that of these young rebels. For starters, they wear the bright and flashy fashions of 1950s America, they style their hair in elaborate confections and they swing to the decadent strains of jazz. All of that's fairly compelling for a young man, but what seals his fate is Polly. She's a beautiful, carefree hipster, and Mels wants her. To get her, he'll have to go full hipster himself -- but at what price? Valeriy Todorovskiy's Hipsters (Stilyagi) is a musical tribute to the perils and joys of nonconformity. The film screens as part of the St. Louis International Film Festival at 9:30 p.m. Monday, November 12, at the Hi-Pointe Theatre (1005 McCausland Avenue; www.cinemastlouis.org), and again at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday, November 14. Tickets are $10 to $12.
Mon., Nov. 12, 2012