Voyna (2002)

Director:

Aleksey Balabanov

Writer:

Aleksey Balabanov (writer)

Release Date:

14 March 2002 (Russia)

Genre:

Action | Drama

Tagline:

this is no "Brat-3", this is War

Plot Keywords:

British Tourist | Kidnapping | Rescue | Chechnya | Rebel

Awards:

3 wins & 5 nominations

Cast

Aleksey Chadov	...	Ivan
Ian Kelly	...	John
Ingeborga Dapkunaite	...	Margaret
Sergei Bodrov Jr.	...	Captain Medvedev
Evklid Kyurdzidis	...	Ruslan
Giorgi Gurgulia	...	Aslan
Vladimir Gostyukhin	...	Ivan's Father
Ben Foster
Yuri Stepanov
David McAllister
Andrei Kormunin
Steve Jamieson
Lev Erenburg
Peter Wickham
Stanislav Stotsky		(as Stas Stotsky)

Also Known As:

Война (Russia)
War (International: English title)

Runtime:

120 min

Country:

Russia

Language:

Russian | English | Chechen

Color:

Color

Aspect Ratio:

1.66 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby Digital

Certification:

Australia:MA (TV rating) | USA:R

Filming Locations:

Verkhniy Chegem, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia

Company:

Kinokompaniya CTB

Absolutely astonishing!

The story: Two British actors are kidnapped somewhere in Georgia and are delivered to Chechnya. The kidnappers demand a ransom, while victims are sitting in a hole in the ground. That's where they meet captain Medvedev (Sergey Bodrov Jr) and Ivan Ermakov (Aleksey Chadov). Medvedev is wounded and very strict, but Ermakov seems to have adjusted and is even helping out the Chechen gang (tribe?) leader with computers.

When Chechen leader - Aslan - learns that he can't get any money he let's the British man go home and get two million pounds to buy out his fiancée. As a gesture of generosity he lets go Ermakov.

The Brit - John - is trying to get the money, and Ivan experiences a post-war life for a Chechnya veteran in his town - no money, no work, ill father. Somehow, John, who was kicked out by every Russian official, finds Ivan and begs him to help him get his fiancée out. Ivan has nothing to lose and he agrees to back to Chechnya...

The movie: This is certainly one of the, if not THE, best movies of Aleksey Balaganov. The story that intertwines lives of Russian soldier, Chechen barbarian bandit and totally not ready for the war as it is British civilian. As always, there is a very deep meaning in every dialogue, every scene and even every look of every character. The music like in many other Balaganov's movies is mostly popular Russian and some Ukranian songs, that emphasize each act and add more emotional content to it.

Perhaps, the movie will shed some light on the situation in Chechnya, and the West will finally understand that you can't negotiate with these people and you can't let them have what they want, because it's never enough for them because they are different. If you're polite with them, they think you're weak - that's the main idea of Balaganov.

John: - Ivan, why do you keep beating this man?

Ivan: - Because this is the only way he will understand. (kicks the prisoner) Faster!

Enjoy the movie. It's a rear quality movie about war.