The second volume in this thorough history of Russian cinema, this collection of original essays picks up where the first one had stopped--at the death of Stalin and the early thaw--and continues to present-day blockbusters. Covering many of the most well-known Soviet and Russian films, this volume is of a less immediate interest than its predecessor, but is still important in its own right. The first part covers several early post-Stalin movies, which, while still continuing in the tradition of socialist realism, became noticeably more humane--and human--in their depictions of Soviet life and particularly, the Great Patriotic War. The second part covers the period of what is known as "zastoj" ("stagnation") and describes several brilliant films of the time, including comedy (The Diamond Arm), eastern (White Sun of the Desert), and several Tarkovsky films. The final part, dealing with the period from perestroika onwards, is perhaps, more depressing than any before, containing as it does several excellently made movies (Brother, Night Watch0, but at the same time showcasing the ongoing commercialization of the genre in Russia and its increasing reliance on old tropes. Compared to the wild experimentation of the early post-Soviet years--or even the productions of the "stagnating" 1970's, the new crop of films is relatively disappointing. Together with the first volume, this collection provides an excellent overview of the history of an important genre in an important setting. Annotation ©2014 Ringgold, Inc., Portland, OR (protoview.com)