The Guardian has added the 1976 Soviet comedy Irony of Fate, or Enjoy Your Bath!, directed by Eldar Ryazanov, to its roundup of the best films to watch at New Year. The entry recognises the original television film rather than the 2022 American remake, noting that the Soviet classic remains widely cherished in Russia.
Irony of Fate and its place in New Year viewing
Writing for the paper, critic Phil Hoad called attention to the film’s blend of awkward, amusing situations and moments of genuine melancholy. He singled out the scene in which characters perform a well-known song by composer Mikael Tariverdiev with a guitar, saying the sequence carries a bittersweet tone that helps explain the picture’s lasting appeal.
Hoad contrasted that enduring affection with the reception of an American remake released in 2022, directed by Marius Weisberg, which he suggested viewers remember far less readily. The Guardian’s decision to include the original 1976 production reinforces how national classics can cross borders and be recognised by international critics.
Alongside Irony of Fate, The Guardian’s selection includes films spanning decades and genres: the noir drama Sunset Boulevard (1950), Billy Wilder’s comedy The Apartment (1960), the disaster film The Poseidon Adventure (1972), the French New Year picture La bonne année (1973), Stanley Kubrick’s thriller The Shining (1980), Woody Allen’s Radio Days (1987), When Harry Met Sally (1989), the sci‑fi Strange Days (1995) and Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy.
The inclusion of a Soviet-era television film among Hollywood and European titles points to the way festive viewing habits can be both local and global. For many viewers in Russia, Irony of Fate has an almost ritual status at New Year, combining romantic comedy with a melancholic undercurrent that resonates at the turn of the year.
The Guardian’s list arrives after domestic surveys in Russia have repeatedly placed Irony of Fate at the top of national polls of favourite New Year films. A recent survey cited titles that Russians return to each holiday season, with Irony of Fate ranked first, followed by Ivan Vasilievich: Back to the Future (1973), Carnival Night (1956) and Gentlemen of Fortune (1971). Other perennial favourites included The Girls (1961), Office Romance (1977), Love and Pigeons (1984), The Diamond Arm (1969), Operation Y and Other Shurik’s Adventures (1965) and Zigzag of Luck (1968).
For film historians and casual viewers alike, the Guardian’s recognition may encourage fresh international interest in Soviet-era cinema at a moment when global audiences revisit celebratory films for the holiday season. Whether watched for nostalgia or for the first time, Irony of Fate remains a cultural touchstone for New Year viewing in Russia and now receives renewed attention beyond its borders.
Key Takeaways:
- The Guardian has included the 1976 Soviet film Irony of Fate in its list of best films to watch at New Year.
- Critic Phil Hoad praised the original for its mix of humour and melancholy and noted the 2022 Hollywood remake is much less remembered.
- The Guardian’s list pairs Irony of Fate with international classics such as Sunset Boulevard, The Shining and The Apartment.
- Earlier Russian polls also put Irony of Fate at the top of the country’s favourite New Year films.
