Brother

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Virgo V Brother (Brat) is a 1997 Russian neo-noir crime drama film written and directed by Aleksei Balabanov. The film stars Sergei Bodrov Jr. as Danila Bagrov, a young ex-conscript who becomes embroiled with the Saint Petersburg mob through his criminal older brother. It appeared in the Un Certain Regard section at the 1997 Cannes Film Festival. After its release on VHS in June 1997, Brother unexpectedly became one of the most commercially successful Russian films of the 1990s and quickly rose to cult film status throughout Russia. It was re-released in theaters in 2022. Due to the film's popularity and fan demand, a sequel, Brother 2, was released in 2000. Brother is a Russian film that some say is a powerful depiction of post-Soviet Russia. It has been praised for its gritty realism, its portrayal of a disenfranchised generation and its depiction of the harshness of life after the fall of communism. The film is said to accurately reflect the disillusionment and harsh realities of life after the fall of communism. Powerful performances The film features excellent performances from Sergei Bodrov Jr. and Yuri Kuznetsov. Captures the spirit of a lost generation The film portrays a generation of young people who are damaged by war, poverty, crime and cruelty. Raw energy The film's raw energy and impact is said to come from its depiction of difficult choices and ugly realities. Suggestive plot The film's simple plot is said to be suggestive and begs for allegorical readings. Rated 4/5 Stars •  Rated 4 out of 5 stars 01/20/25 Full Review James L For a supposed budget of 10,000 dollars, this film punches well above it's weight. The locations and overall feel of the film is gritty, cold, and riveting. The characters are well acted and showcase memorable scenes. Pacing was good and moved along fluidly. A definite must watch for fans of the gangster drama and period pieces. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 01/03/25 Full Review Aleksandr I This is the number one of all my life movies list. Recommended for everyone, especially in Russia. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 06/16/24 Full Review Ravenswood R Has some entertaining and interesting scenes and decent action, but the story is far from gripping and the editing is often off the mark and does not consistently make the scenes and what happens in them clear. Goofy subplots and reliance on music and song lyrics to carry the weight of the story are not great film-making techniques, and the carefree coolness of the killing and violence are treated with such casualness that this film will fail to make full sense to anyone who is not a sociopath. Watch this with reservations and it is OK, but if you expect a great gangster or even a simple revenge film this falls quite a bit short. Rated 3/5 Stars •  Rated 3 out of 5 stars 08/29/23 Full Review Jack V A dark glimpse into the reality of Russia in the late 90's. Rated 5/5 Stars •  Rated 5 out of 5 stars 08/18/23 Full Review Audience Member A very good Russian gangster film from the mid 90s. Well known in Russian culture but strangely unknown elsewhere given how good it is and captures the time and place well. Rated 4.5/5 Stars •  Rated 4.5 out of 5 stars 01/28/23 Full Review Read all reviews

Brother

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