Must-See Techno Wonder

BY: Alex Hutchins

At first glance, the music video for Russian Rock band Leningrad’s song “Kolshik” might seem too graphic, but the incredibly creative shots and film style got us hooked on this Soviet gem immediately. As if the story of a chaotic Russian circus where everything that could go wrong inevitably does, in sometimes tragic/sometimes hilarious ways, director Ilya Naishuller spins the story on its head by letting the events unfold in reverse, á la the film, Memento (2000).

Upon viewing the video multiple times, we began to get the sense that this video’s striking visuals and intimate, extreme close-up shots are not all that Leningrad is trying to show us. The motif of walls and curtains begin to take on a greater significance when you put them into the context of a circus performance. While everyone is focused on the show, there is just as much going on behind the curtain that goes unseen.

A man having sex with a woman in the control room and a presumably illegal money exchange gone wrong are just a couple of the sinful activities happening just out view of the audience. The beauty of this video in our book stems from the idea that this entire chaotic domino-effect of tragic events stems from one of the most innocent images imaginable: a little girl blowing a bubble.

Like the straw that broke the camel’s back or the Butterfly Effect, this small action is meaningless until it ends up being the catalyst for bringing all of the illicit behind-the-scenes actions into the spotlight (literally). While it might also double as a message about corruption behind closed doors that happens in today’s society, Leningrad’s video is most certainly an entertaining watch from end to start. And in case you are curious, someone went to the trouble to upload the video in chronological order as well.