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Watching this makes me think of "Pusher". It's certainly in that league.
Younger brother is released from Russian military service, claiming only to have served as a "clerk at HQ". He visits his older brother in St. Petersburg and is quickly drawn into a battlefield of murderous crime, displaying skills which make one question his modest claims.
Matter of fact but exceedingly believable violence of survival is interspersed with rather innocent, even charming encounters with peripheral characters which include an authentic flavor of the wonderful, gritty metropolis of Petersburg. You can almost smell the piss in the alleys and the entranceways to cheap apartment buildings.
There are a number of notable performances, chiefly lead by Sergei Bodrov, Jr. whose boyish looks are a great compliment to his believability. Sadly, I learned he was killed in an avalanche in 2002, having made this movie in 1997.
I saw this on the same day as "Eastern Promises" and thought them to be bookend depictions of Russian crime life of the highest caliber.
Highly recommended.
Follow Ups:
I would say both are just OK.
...is another man's flo' ...
I'd be far more fluent in Russian film if a certain someone had followed thru on a promise
to share. ;-)
I didn't say they were bad... just not great. There was plenty of controversy surrounding the films, some accusations of being fascist... whatever that means.
I am not really the greatest expert on the Russian films, but I have posted on them quite a lot... I am busy at the moment, but if you just search on my name you will see quite a few. But I realize it is not polite to leave without a recommendation, so since you are on the Brat subject, check out the films with the guy who plays his brother - Viktor Sukhorukov. Among them, Shiza instantly comes to mind, you will not regret. And if you like bizarre, check out Of Freaks and Men.
You're right. It's not great but it holds up for me. Is there a difference between "OK" and "not great"?There are some very fine performances, i.e. the German, Svetna, Danila, Roundhead. Having been there a half-dozen times, the flavor of Petersburg was palpable. And I've seen and been around some of the thug types depicted here. They are not so inaccurately drawn.
The personal biases of the director are of little concern to me. Everyone is racist to one extent or another. Incitement is another thing. I don't see that here.
I do see a thoughtful, low-budget character study nicely done. It's romanticized, admitedly, but it is fluid, with no great errors or pretensions and with a very nice attention to nuances which would be missing from a lesser film.
I like crime films so it gets points for that.
I realise that much may be lost in subtitles, and so on but it's new to my eye and worth a look by anyone who loves film. I'll take this over 95% of the crap that fills the typical mall screen.
Thanks for the tips. I realize you're busy. My reference to following thru relates to your offer, after having seen "A Vertical Ray Of The Sun", to share something - a Russian piece - that wasn't otherwise unavailable in the US. Something whose title escapes me now.
I guess the warm glow of generosity has faded with time. ;-)
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