Oh, I'm sorry I'm ragging on this movie and everyone likes it. It's just that, you know, imagine you're 21 years old and these kooky Russians come to town and make a movie about your scene. Except it doesn't resemble anything that's actually happening. Or rather it does, but in a really twisted, outsider way. I'll admit all these years later it's pretty funny to see.
I suggest a double feature with Times Square. According to Ann Carlysle, the butch character in that one is supposed to be Adele Bertei too. (She gave me an earful that day, before I got rip-roaring drunk.) She had an axe to grind and she got her revenge with that girlfriend character!