Karmen

A nice modern adaptation of Merime's Carmen. A cop falls in love - better say, obsession, with a young criminally talented woman - the love which drives him into the depths of degradation. Unable to even stand a male look at his lover, the cop starts killing, gets demoted and joins criminal brotherhood - and finally kills her facing a 20-year sentence.

A colorful and picturesque cinematography, added with the beautiful though disintegrating Crimean scenery, translates this scent of degradation through decaying environment, multi-language talk of native Crimean population having no choice to make living but to rob and steal, and junta-like looks of the Ukranian police.

A talented work of decorators and costume designers looks inspired by classic Russian novels by Lermontov and Paustovsky.

The plot is vivid but is systematically interrupted by the cop's confessions in prison, in which he explains his emotional state - which is clear enough without his comments - while his final pathetic remarks about destiny etc. only spoil a viewer's perception.

Overall, good: 6 out of 10.