Despite the Falling Snow

In the film's early sixties beginning, Sasha (Sam Reid) is defecting to the US in a harrowing chase to the safe car. Once inside, his joy turns to anguish as he receives terrible news of others. Flashing forward to just after the fall of the Soviet Union, an older Sasha (Charles Dance) , now a successful American businessman, doesn't like that his niece, Lauren (Rebecca Ferguson) is having a showing of her wonderful artwork in the new Russia. She is also determined to find out some secrets about her family. Now, suddenly, we are back in Communist Russia where beautiful Katya (also Rebecca Ferguson) is casting eyes on the young Sasha, short for Alexander. At a cocktail party, the lovely school principal is meeting the handsome aid to a high ranking Soviet official. But, all is not as it seems. Katya's parents were murdered under Stalin and she was left an orphan. Although she appears to be a true believer, she is secretly transferring Soviet secrets to the Americans, for she hates the communists. In this, her friend and mentor, Misha (Oliver Jackson Cohen) has suggested she "get close" to Sasha for he will have a bounty of secrets on his watch. So, Katya does as told. But, what starts as espionage ends in Katya falling hard for the personable and handsome Misha, as he also loves her, and marrying him, much to Misha's dismay. Now, lives are in danger and defection may be the only option. How will it end? Then, too, will Lauren discover these happenings as well? This fine film has sumptuous visuals of Moscow amid the snow and a great cast. Add on wonderful costumes, an intriguing, time-hopping story and a polished direction and here is a film many refined movie fans will love. Are you one of these?

"Despite the Falling Snow" from 2016 is a well-produced film with very good music and a good cast, including Rebecca Ferguson in a dual role as Lauren and her Aunt Katya.

The story is told in flashback. Lauren, an excellent artist, has been invited to show in the new Russia. She intends to go, despite her Uncle Alexander's (Charles Dance) protests.

Lauren knows she bears a strong resemblance to Alexander's wife, Katya, whom he left behind in Russia - unwillingly. She wants to know what happened to her aunt.

Alexander, Katya, and Mischa (Anthony Head) were all spies in the Soviet Union in the 1960s. Katya meets Sasha at a cocktail party. She is encouraged by her handler, Mischa (Oliver Jackson-Cohen), to cultivate Sasha.

While she pretends to be an avowed Communist, Katya hates the Communists for killing her parents and is spying for the U. S. Mischa believes that Sasha will have some good information for her to pass along.

However, Katya falls in love with Sasha and marries him - not what Misha had planned! Does as told. But, what starts as espionage ends in Katya falling hard for the personable and handsome Misha, as he also loves her, and marrying him, much to Misha's dismay. Complications arise.

I found this story slow, and I also realized immediately it wasn't filmed in Russia, and that no one involved with the production knew much about Russia. First of all, it's quite cold there. These people are walking around with woolen coats, scarves jauntily around their necks, and little wool hats. And the clothes were wrong. Not believable.

There was a complaint that the Russians spoke with British accents. I have a question - did you expect them to speak English with a Russian accent? How about that they're speaking Russian, and a British accent, used in Chekov and many other Russian stories, is completely appropriate.

The film moved slowly. The acting was good. I just couldn't get swept up in the story.

When you're cooking and you use ingredients that are 4/10 in quality/freshness, make a 4/10 recipe and put 4/10 effort to details, temperature, timing, etc, you get something that is at best 4/10. You don't need to ask the taster "How would you rate this?" because as a chef, what do you expect?

This is not a commentary on the mediocre Russian cuisine using Soviet era ingredients, but is this production company under embargo or something that they have to do with rations? Could they not have a better script?

Oh wait, the director decided to write her own script, not ask anyone for assistance, and direct everything herself. If your script is good, find a good director to make it. If you're a good director, find a good script to make into film. Very, very few people can do both. The problem is many, many people think they can.

The problem is that a weak director could ruin their own top-notch self- written script with mediocre direction. And a poor self-written script could ruin a great director's film by not getting any scrutiny or passing any filters from idea to finished film.

Let's talk positives first. The soundtrack: 10/10. This is perhaps the best score I've ever heard in my life.

Rebecca Ferguson is one of the most beautiful women to grace the screen and she's exceptionally talented, but eye-candy and great soundtrack do not a great film make.

The other actors were good for what it's worth.

The script, the story, the dialogues, the whole thing is a huge let down. I was looking forward to this film and I can't recommend it to anyone.

It's just not worth watching.

Buy the soundtrack though.

I am surprised this film has an average rating since the acting is great. Rebecca Ferguson is her beautiful talented self again and her versatility is once again displayed. Sharif did a great job casting and directing her as lead. I want to thank Shamim for the little but breathtaking scenes between Rebecca and Antje it was fireworks. I mean who can resist such striking blue eyes. I would've liked more scenes between them because their characters are not as developed although understandably so of course. I like films about war and I am a sucker for romance so I get two things I like in one film. Antje's eyes will get her anywhere and of course her talent and if you're a fan of Rebecca and Sharif then you have to see this film. Loved it so much.

I accept that I am not among the sophisticati who live and breathe movies and contribute frequently to IMDB. But as a U.S. diplomat I served at the U.S. Embassy in communist Budapest Hungary in the Cold War 1970's. Much that was depicted in this movie ran true back then -- dilapitated decaying wall-peeling apartnents and buildings versus relatively elegant government buildings, bugging of even private apartments, etc. etc. Much was the same in Moscow too. I write rarely on IMDB and only when some movie especially intrigues me. This one did. No grotesque slasher torture-, gun- or hyper-violence here, no f-words. Rather, intelligent dialogues, gorgeous repeat gorgeous cinenatography, delicate music and I venture director's and financial backers' love for this movie's concept make this movie a true work of ART. I am glad it came to be nade.