Hard to Be a God

Dir: Aleksei German

2013

*****

Aleksei German’s 2013 swansong is a unrelenting slog of brutal but beautiful imagery. Hard to Be a God is often hard to watch due to content and a lack of chapters but German was a master of cinema, a unique talent, with plenty of his signature moves to keep the audience enthralled throughout. Based on the novel by Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, Hard to Be a God follows Anton, a scientist from earth who has traveled to an almost identical planet that is eight-hundred years behind in terms of development. The inhabitants of this planet have brutally suppressed a renaissance movement, murdering anybody they consider to be an intellectual, and thus the planet is stuck in the middle ages. One of thirty earthlings on the planet, Anton acts as an undercover operative, an observer forbidden to assist too actively within society, as his assistance would interfere with the natural progress of history. Although Anton is forbidden from interfering directly, he is sent to infiltrate the local populace of the Kingdom of Arkanar and help them progress as a society from afar. He assumes the identity of Don Rumata, a nobleman who resides in a large castle surrounded by poverty. However, as time progresses and the depravity takes its toll, he can’t help but get involved within society and takes Ari, a young woman, as his bride. They live together in a castle along with the juvenile prince of Arkanar. Rumata's presence divides local opinion; some treat him as a God due to his obvious precents and intellect, while others despise him. Anton tasks himself with finding Budakh, a doctor who has been kidnapped by Don Reba, the tyrannical prime minister of Arkanar. Reba's militia, referred to as "the Greys", are responsible for the murder of many intellectuals, including scientists and writers. During his travels, Rumata witnesses the backward ways of the locals and becomes increasingly frustrated with them. Anton’s travels and interaction with the locals is the core of the film. At nearly three hours long, it will be more than most people can take but personally I found the constant interference between the extras and the main characters fascinating and often hilarious. When Anton returns to his castle, he finds the local area has been taken over by religious zealots in his absence, called "the Blacks", who prove to be just as oppressive as the Greys. Anton discovers that Budakh is an impostor, and that the real Budakh is still imprisoned at Don Reba's castle. He returns to Reba on peaceful terms and searches the sewers of the castle for Budakh. He eventually finds him, as well as Baron Pampa, who has been tortured by Reba's men. Rumata, Pampa and Budakh escape Reba's castle, but Pampa is shot by archers and killed. Upon returning to his village, Rumata becomes annoyed when he discovers that Budakh, apparently a great doctor and intellectual, is actually a bumbling fool who is unable to even urinate properly. He sends Budakh away and retires to his castle. The next day, the Greys attack the castle and kill Ari. Enraged, Anton butchers their leader. When questioned by a traveler who reveals himself to be another earthly, Anton replies of his actions “It’s hard to be a god!”.

The film's core idea is that human progress throughout the centuries is often cruel and bloody, and that religion and blind faith can be effective tools of oppression, working to destroy the emerging scientific disciplines and enlightenment. Anton’s evolution from an emotionally un-involved 'observer' to someone who rejects the blind belief in theory when confronted with the cruelty of real events is bizarre but believable making it just about the strangest sci-fi ever made but it somehow works brilliantly. Characters rub their faces in feces, they fondle the dead and spit and urinate wherever they like. The depravity is often overwhelming. However, there is something astonishingly beautiful about it, like a renaissance painting come to life. The film feels like an old Star Trek episode whereby the crew would be trapped on an underdeveloped alien planet but without a star ship or phasers and making love to green women. Visually, it’s a cross between Andrei Tarkovsky and Terry Gilliam, both serious and a comedy all at the same time. It also breaks the forth wall many times with extras looking right at the camera and addressing the audience as if we were there. It took six years to film and a further seven years to edit. It was released thirteen years after filming started but sadly Aleksei German died just before completion. Not for everyone, Hard to Be a God will elate and disgust in equal measure, you may only watch it once but for my money, it’s an overlooked masterpiece.