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Don't know why this film has such low ratings. It is very well made, with a lot of attention to detail. Acting is very good and so is the plot. Sure, maybe a bit sent,metal. But since when does that deserve a bad rating. Recommended for the story and the acting.

Most interesting thing, during shooting, Tagawa became Orthodox Christian. He is baptized in Russian Orthodox Church.

The movie is done to the point. It has quite a few impressive details and connotations, which probably will go unnoticed to the regular viewer at first sight. Like a flash of lightning behind Nelyubin. Or Nikolay's refusal to fight off the two policemen. Or the hunter's inability to shoot the bear. Or the glance in the water. Or the ending scene fading into white. It can be quite a considerable list of such happenings. No surprise, though, while a real Orthodox priest takes part in this one.

A very good example of Russian cinema. Still, one complaint from my side: the music (especially at the very end) should have been different. But this is my taste - would prefer mild choir music in this instance or even just the sounds of nature (birds singing for example). Grebenshchikov's score was great in the famous and groovy "Black Rose...", but not here. Here it sounds cheap, sorry.

Thank you for attention. A 9 out of 10.

For the admirers of Orthodox films, nothing surprising. But usufull, like each film about faith. The themes, the plot, the performances are the expected ones. A film about the way to live in the God will. One of declarations films, with beautiful scenes, wise pledge, slices of profound Russia ( and its corruption ), honest lesson about near reality, old sins and the peace with yourself. For a part of public, the performance and the decision of Cary - Hiroyuki Tagakawa could be a surprise. But , for an Ortodox Christian, the familiar manner to perform a priest, the presence and work of Pyotr Mamonov , the symbols and the significances of them are good points of a film who, maybe, has a precise public. Because many nuances are strange or just poor details for a public out of Orthodox Church. But the essence of film works , in profound sense, for each sort of audience. A film about faith becoming a film of faith. Nothing original. Only usefull.