Long separated from his family, hitman Joshua returns to Brighton Beach for a contract killing for the Russian Mafia. His abusive father, Arkady, banned him from returning after Joshua committed his first murder. He takes up residence in a hotel, and soon everyone knows he has returned. He goes home to visit his dying mother, Irina, and prepares for the assassination, getting drawn back into the criminal community he left behind.
Acting
Tim Roth's hollow eyes say everything.
Direction
Gray's debut, already a master of dread.
Cinematography
Wintry Brighton Beach as purgatory.
Director
James Gray
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Gray was 25 when he directed this. TWENTY-FIVE. The Venice Film Festival gave him the Silver Lion for it.
One of the first American films to portray Russian-Jewish Brighton Beach with authenticity rather than cartoonish mob caricature—Gray grew up nearby in Queens.
No ratings yet
Sign in to join the discussion — comments are spoiler-gated to your watch progress.
Discussion starters
US
