How to make your choice when you have no choice. An unbearable picture of a complete and unconditional blow to the son by both parents. . .
At whatever time such a story takes place, it is always up to the complete destruction of each other. With sharp hatred, stunned unrestrainedness, complete pofigism and absolute rejection of the point of view of the other side. We can do that. We're Russians. . .
The film shows the family problem of divorce and separation of parents through the eyes of a teenage son, from both sides - Russian and American. The whole story is that no matter how bad we are, with all the cockroaches in our heads, we are a priori better than Americans, because we are smart and creative, we know how to get out of an emergency situation and jump out of where we are pressed against the wall. . .
And yet... The problem is much deeper. A movie about love. That this concept is much broader and much more inclusive, even when we are dealing with family issues. Parents so frantically hate each other and fight for their son’s attention that they do not notice how the child becomes much smarter, kinder and more responsible than all of them combined. The boy, uprooted from his usual environment and forced into another, breaking to the blood and tearing off all his protective veils, becomes more human than all people close to him, from grandparents to stepfather. . .
The picture was very layered. The unambiguous conflict grows beyond the scope of the plot and becomes a parable about how one can be or not be a person. The end of the picture is quite peaceful and peaceful, but I would say it is an open ending - because nothing is clear about the future of this young man, although he is supposed to be good because he made his own choice. First and foremost. Maybe the most important choice in your life. . .
Undoubtedly amazing performance of all actors, not excluding the main character - the boy. Nice, dynamic shooting. Strong directorial work. There are some claims to the production and more - to the plot, but I will not list them all, since they are quite obvious to those who saw the picture.
7 out of 10
Original