The Search

It's 1999, the Second Chechen War. Young Russian Army recruit Kolia is filming the troops. They kill an elderly couple. Their 9 year old son Hadji escapes with his baby brother. He leaves the baby with the neighbors and joins the refugees going north. Alone and turning mute, he is taken in by french woman Carole who is writing a report for the EU Human Rights Committee. Helen (Annette Bening) runs the local humanitarian effort and dismisses her work. Meanwhile, Hadji's sister actually survived the massacre and sets off searching for him. The movie also follows Kolia as he signs up with his friend. He faces brutal treatment in the Russian Army and is then sent to the front.

This is a French film made in Georgia. I like the kid and the French woman, no matter how unlikely the situation. The sister's story has a few compelling moments although the reunion is never in doubt. Kolia is never that compelling to me. His part could function much better by itself which would look closer to Full Metal Jacket. By itself, his story has value. The production and the war torn setting all look fine. It's just that I don't care that much about him and I kept waiting for the movie to return to the boy. I also have an issue with her boring speech to the committee. She has a great prop for her report. She could simply film Hadji talking about losing his family and that would be infinitely more riveting than her report. It seems like an obvious move for the story and for her character. It would then be even more heartbreaking when her boss reprimands her for her supposed stunt. Somebody should write better. Overall, I like the kid and his journey. The other stuff and the minor problems detract from a better score.

I'm Chechen and I've seen the war in my country. This story is only a simple story from a hundred of thousands other stories of Russian- Chechen wars.

As someone that have seen the war, it was very difficult for me to watch this movie, I'm a man and I was watching it with the tears in my eyes, it has reminded me all the horrible dark nights in my country.

I'm honestly thankful to Mr. Michel Hazanavicius. It's very obvious that he did not make this movie for money and success but because he thought that someone has to tell the truth.

You will see many people saying that this movie has a political goals, anti-Russia propaganda etc and etc, however truth is truth neither you like it or not. Those are mainly people who did not suffer even a 1% of pain that Chechen people did. at least 35% of Chechens were killed in last two wars, about 40.000 of them were children. They burned people alive, just simple example, google "Samashki massacre" and thats from the war in 1994. The Search is about the second war 1999 which was much worst than the previous war. The history of Chechnya and Russia is horrible, there been so many wars in last 400 years, the history is indeed horrible.

This movie shows a very little percent of what was really happening in Chechnya, however it tells the truth, It's very disappointing that now days not many people really wants to hear the truth, not much people do really care and that's what movie tells as well.

The genocide of Jewish people, the genocide of Chechen and all the other people genocides, those are not only problem of certain people/nation but the problem and the issue of the world and all the people.

This is a very honest and based on a true stories movie, this isn't a comedy and action for fun, this is a movie that made with heart for the people that still care.

--- Dear Michel Hazanavicius,

Thank you very much for this movie from all the Chechen people around the world, one day in Independent Chechen Republic you will be our most welcomed guest. We believe in it.

This film is a tad long and sad, but well worth watching. The topic is still important and the film shows how war brutalises people and how the international community turns a blind eye.

There are several reviews here that have been witten by Russian trolls that did not even bother to watch the film. In reality does the film strike a reasonable balance in portraying the russian solidiers. Ie not all russian solidiers are bad and not all Checehens are good. The depiction of how solidiers anre brutalised in an unjust war is not much different from the one in "Full Metal Jacket".

Both Kolja and Hadji produce very strong acting performances and Anette Benning shines as the all too overworked aid worker

I totally disagree with "madamebaterflaj" - although this isn't the "best film ever" (and how could it be, depicting the horror of war), it is not bad at all. Yes, it is anti-Russian, but don't you remember how the story went? It's like saying "Schindler's List is black-and-white anti-German propaganda".... It is an European point of view, of course, so even if there is a sort of happy end, the focus of the story are not the emotions of the characters, not even the characters maybe, but History and how we all are involved. The boy actor is simply terrific, some times he looks like an old guy, a grown up man, and then again he shows he's just a little boy. Beautiful photography. Beautiful soundtrack. Might be a bit too long but not that much.

This is a remake of a 1948 movie with the same name, but with a second story along side the updated original. Like the original movie, this will tug at your heart by displaying the real cost of war. But unlike the original, this movie not only shows the "victim" side through the use of a homeless little child, it also shows the "victimization" of 18 year old boys, those having to fight. This movie is a bit gory, but is very respectful and does not show gratuitous gore. The movie seems to develop slowly, a style many who enjoy European movies have come to expect. However, unlike many European movies, this one has a nice "twist" at the end that is likely to put a smile on your face, in the midst of the horrors and realities of war. The two stories are only tied together at the very end and only in a brief, somewhat unsatisfying way. But if one understands that the movie is reflecting on how awful war is on young lives, it does make sense. Slow, moving and powerful. Not the typical fast paced, complex and neatly wrapped up US production. If you want to watch, sit, relax and enjoy.