Uploaded August 2022 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago

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An analysis of one of my favorite film directors, Ilya Naishuller (Hardcore Henry, Nobody, and music videos for The Weeknd, Biting Elbows, Leningrad)

Links to all the music videos featured in the video essay:
The Stampede: youtube.com/watch?v=QYm-dT24iRY
Bad Motherf*cker: youtube.com/watch?v=Rgox84KE7iY
Voyage: youtube.com/watch?v=sl_pxCAcJz4
Kolshik: youtube.com/watch?v=ktiONWfSL48
False Alarm: youtube.com/watch?v=CW5oGRx9CLM
Tsoi: youtube.com/watch?v=WuFyjV7LaQc
Zoloto: youtube.com/watch?v=u98m7axPHZM
Ju-ju: youtube.com/watch?v=a-GQDCtt1Vk
Control: youtube.com/watch?v=uaKjhbsvSmE
Boy is Dead: youtube.com/watch?v=MaoVzG5_-JQ

CHAPTERS:

0:00 - Skit
1:10 - Intro
2:30 - Prologue (the state of modern Russian cinema)
10:22 - Lesson 1: Hooks
14:14 - Lesson 2: Incremental originality
18:32 - Lesson 3: Specific memorable moments
21:14 - Lesson 4: Symbolism, rewarding understanding
28:01 - Lesson 5: Shock ending
29:32 - Outro

#VideoEssay #BitingElbows #Leningrad