In What's After the Movie, the story centers around a young Finnish man named Raivo, who travels to Russia with the goal of studying the traditional mannerisms and customs of a Russian hunt. His journey begins when he is welcomed by a former Russian general, [Ivolgin] and his eccentric band of companions, each with their own quirks, for a hunting expedition deep in a rural Russian forest. Among this colorful cast is a notably outrageous woodsman named [Кузмич] (Kuz’mich), played by Viktor Bychkov, whose antics add a layer of chaotic humor to the storyline.
Initially, Raivo holds romanticized notions of the hunting traditions of the 18th and 19th centuries, envisioning a grand, regal event filled with elegance, French-speaking aristocrats, and the pursuit of a majestic wolf—an ideal that predates the Russian Revolution. However, his expectations are quickly subverted as he encounters the reality of his surroundings, which are far less scholarly and refined. Instead, what unfolds are numerous boisterous, alcohol-fueled misadventures that highlight the humorous chaotic nature of this group.
Throughout the film, the characters have a series of amusing and often absurd encounters with locals and the environment around them. Some of these episodes include a bear sneaking into their sauna (banya) and causing chaos, a police officer (Militsiya) losing his pistol, Lev accidentally blowing up a stick of dynamite, cattle going missing, stolen Police UAZ vehicles, and encounters with local milkmaids. A particularly memorable side story features Kuz’mich attempting to deliver a cow to a relative using a bomber aircraft, with a bottle of vodka as the intended reward. These episodic events are stylized as traditional hunting tales but are infused with slapstick humor, making the entire experience lively and often hilariously unpredictable.
As the narrative develops, it becomes clear that the actual hunt itself is almost secondary to the characters’ antics and interactions. The group’s attempts at a proper hunt are characterized by bizarre and fantastical events that seem more like strange dreams or exaggerated stories. Examples include a pineapple inexplicably appearing in a hedgerow, the sky mysteriously showing Earth in the distance, and a missing cow that was presumed shot during the hunt somehow coming back to life and attempting to escape. These surreal episodes serve to further emphasize the stark contrast between the characters' lofty ideals and the chaotic reality they face.
Meanwhile, Raivo’s imagination continues to conjure visions of a classical 19th-century Russian hunt—an elegant affair where the participants speak French, don formal attire, and pursue a giant wolf with the help of dogs and horses. These scenes offer a sharp juxtaposition to the disorganized and raucous events of the actual hunt, highlighting the discrepancy between tradition and the modern-day chaos depicted in the film.
In the final scenes, the cast gathers around a campfire, and the lines between their idealized visions and the wild truth of their adventures converge. The film closes on a scene where both worlds—real and imagined—blend together, leaving viewers with a humorous reflection on the unpredictability of life and the folly of romanticized expectations.
Overall, What's After the Movie is a satirical and slapstick-filled journey that pokes fun at the romantic notions of traditional hunting, while showcasing the hilarious, often absurd experiences of a group of misfits in the Russian wilderness. It’s a story about clashes between dreams and reality, the chaos of human nature, and the enduring humor found in life's unpredictable moments.
