Silver Skates Parent Guide

Unfairly fired from his delivery job, Matvey (Fedor Fedotov) urgently needs money. His father has tuberculosis and the only doctor who can potentially cure him is in Germany, a prohibitively expensive train ride away from Russia. In a last-ditch attempt to save his only parent, Matvey joins forces with a notorious group of fast-skating pickpockets who ply their trade on the frozen rivers and canals of St. Petersburg.

Alisa is also desperate. The nobleman’s daughter is beautiful, wealthy, and being groomed for life as a wife and social hostess among the kindgom’s social elite. But Alisa’s passion is science and she desperately wants to attend university – a dream that is considered unfeminine and possibly deranged by her society in 1900. As her options narrow, Alisa becomes increasingly rebellious, and then, one night, she finds a handsome young man on her balcony…

Silver Skates is both a predictable romantic drama and something new. The novelty stems principally from its Russian origin. Not only is this movie set in pre-revolutionary Russia; it’s a Russian production – and it was a runaway blockbuster upon its domestic release. As such, this is a film with Russian sensibilities and perspectives. Foreign audiences might be a bit mystified when the gang’s ringleader holds forth on the evils of capitalism and the need for the poor to reclaim what is rightfully theirs, but for domestic audiences with a communist legacy, such rhetoric is as familiar as talk of freedom and apple pie would be to Americans. Oddly enough, the tirades aren’t matched by disturbing images of the crushing poverty and oppression of the late czarist era. There’s no hardcore bolshevism here: just romance-and-revolution lite.

In terms of familiar elements, there are few surprises. Silver Skates is a wrong-side-of-the-tracks story where a couple of young lovers can’t be kept apart despite the roadblocks of family, class, and romantic rivals. The film often moves slowly – very slowly – and tighter editing would be a bonus. But the production is beautiful to look at with glittery winter scenery, elaborate society functions, and lovely period costumes. There are also plenty of exciting action sequences (including some amazing chase scenes on skates) which might mollify reluctant viewers who have been coaxed into watching by their moonstruck partners.

Parents considering the movie for family viewing will want to bear in mind that there are some scenes of plot-related violence. There is also one scene of premarital sexual activity in which a blurry shot of a woman’s breast is visible for a split second. In addition, main characters are shown intoxicated more than once.

Surprisingly for a romantic drama, Silver Skates slides some positive themes across the screen. Alisa’s passion for science and Matvey’s support for her goals is heartening. The film also provides strong messages about the power of people to change, to reverse course, and to become better. And, of course, for all romance fans, the film pays tribute to the power of love and sacrifice. This movie might not be the most enchanted romance ever to hit the big screen, but it manages to transmute a Russian winter into a wonderland, and that’s a magical achievement all on its own.