Falling Through (2000)

User Rating:

4.7/10   

Director:

Colin Bucksey

Writers:

Ian Corson (writer)
J.C. Thomas (story)

Genre:

Thriller

Plot:

Loyalties are divided when an internal affairs officer learns that those closest to him are running a black market passport ring. |

Plot Keywords:

Independent Film

Cast

James West	...	Groom
Marjo Baayen	...	Bride
Eric Connor	...	Poletch
Gordon Currie	...	Peter
Roy Scheider	...	Earl
Yekaterina Rednikova	...	Kateryna
Judy Parfitt	...	Ambassador
R.J. Adams	...	Embassy Agent
Peter Weller	...	Lou
Nadia Cameron-Blakey	...	Linda (as Nadia Cameron)
Carrie O'Brien	...	Ambassador's Assistant
Sharon Mann	...	Sally (as Lee Danner)
Steve Nicolson	...	Dmitri
Patrick Dean	...	Businessman
Chris Anthony	...	Immigration Officer #1

Runtime:

Australia:87 min | Argentina:92 min | USA:96 min

Country:

Canada | France | Luxembourg

Language:

English

Color:

Color

Certification:

Iceland:16 | Netherlands:12 | Argentina:13 | Australia:MA | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Luxembourg

Company:

Chesler/Perlmutter Productions

Ridiculous Canadian movie

Apart from having low budgets there is one thing that characterises Canadian films - most foreigners there are played by foreigners. This is true in the case of Falling Through. Russian leading lady played by authentic Russian actress has authentic incomprehensible accent as well as authentic Russian smile.

We see a supposedly Russian family - father and siblings from Republic of Georgia. Brief lesson in history: Georgia used to be a part of USSR and Russia for the last 200 years but it had been an independent country for at least 18 centuries before that and is a separate republic now with different from Russia language, culture and overall appearance of residents.

There are no subtleties in this masterpiece of Canadian cinema. Father looks like an old Russian aristocrat in unexpected poverty and despair, sister represents the venerated image of noble and mysterious Russian lady so familiar from 19th century classical Russian novels whereas brother looks like a caricature on a provincial Georgian tangerine salesmen in a Russian grocery market.

This family for some mysterious reasons consists of Georgian brother, Russian sister and Russian father. It helps to realise the absurdity of such a family if one imagines the similar one consisting of Arab brother and Swedish father and sister.

Filmmakers apparently employed prejudiced consultants in creating the racist and disgusting image of a Georgian man who of course should always wear athletics uniform on a naked torso, look and talk primitive and macho and be a criminal. This image is in striking difference from educated, well dressed, well spoken, sophisticated Russian sister.

It is quiet evident why the Canadian filmmakers had to employ non Georgian actor to play Georgian character. If you've seen "Bamboozled" by Spike Lee you would understand the feeling any Georgian actor must have had if offered the part of Dimitri.

The plot is highly predictable and full of stereotypes. Noble Russian sister is desperately trying to save noble Russian father from Criminal Georgian brother using American embassy workers and not so legal ways.

There are no deep characters in the film, motives are transparent, you always know who will get what - sister will get punished for using illegal methods, brother will get punished for being criminal, wife cheater-illegal alien helper embassy worker will get punished for employing "politically incorrect methods" even though they are used for helping the disadvantaged.

Who does not get punished? Well for starter our hero - Embassy security head for being such a nice and smart boy and poor demented Russian father abused by Georgian son. I was even left breathless for such a brave decision of filmmakers on still letting the sympathetic old man to get to the US - the paradise on earth.

Although cheap, offensive and predictable with the moral suited for the two year olds this film is still strangely amusing to watch for anyone from former USSR. For even more offensive portrayal of Georgians, this time by Hollywood, check the 1988 film "Red Heat" starring Arnold Schwarzenegger.