During the bloody war in Chechnya, a British couple and two Russian soldiers are taken hostage by Chechen rebels. Two of the hostages are then released to bring the money for the British woman who is forced to wait for the ransom.
Acting
Bodrov Jr.'s final performance—tragically prophetic.
Direction
Balabanov's unblinking eye, no heroes allowed.
Writing
Dialogue so sharp it cuts in three languages.
Director
Aleksei Balabanov
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Banned in several Chechen regions; Balabanov refused to make either side sympathetic, infuriating Russian nationalists and Chechen sympathizers equally.
Sergei Bodrov Jr. died in a real avalanche months after filming—his haunted performance as Medvedev became his unintentional farewell.
RU
