Chekist

The Chekist creates its power through repetition. Three men set in an office, one reads names, and the other two pronounce the sentence (almost invariably execution by firing squad). Then, the condemned (always in fives) are taken from their underground cell. They are led through the bunker until they get to a large room with doors at the far end. They are ordered to strip and face the doors. Then, they are shot. Afterwards, the bodies are hauled from the bunker via a pulley system and placed in truckbeds. After the trucks are full, they are driven from the compound. The victims cross all age barriers, old men or young women, all are treated the same. These images repeat over and over again. Nearly half of the film are these scenes. Some will find it hard to watch. They are even harder to forget.

These executions are overseen (and seen) by Andrey Srubov, a bureaucratic official who shows little emotion as he carries out his job to make Russia better by eliminating those who could be a threat to the communist utopia. Srubov discharges his duties with emotionless efficiency. However, there are hints that even he is not immune to what he witnesses daily. His home life with his wife and mother is a cold, sterile atmosphere. People avoid Srubov because there are very few in this city that has not lost someone they love to his efficiency. As the film progresses, an occasional condemned man will be revealed as someone whom Srubov knows personally. These final meetings are horrifying. They, perhaps, even disturb Srubov.

The Chekist may not be a film for everyone but it is one that will produce a response. One cannot watch this film passively.

It's funny to see Russians/pro-Russians on here getting triggered by a film that makes good ol' mother Russia look bad, claiming that it's somehow 'evil Western propaganda'. The film is A RUSSIAN FILM. Created by Russians, based on a book written by a Russian, and about a Russian tragedy that they themselves created. The reason you're so upset with this, the reason you're so angry, is because a film like this somehow managed to slip through the cracks of the Russian terror machine and expose to the world what the Soviet experiment was all about - the accusing and murder of anyone they didn't like. That's a theme that continues to this day in Russia, if you don't like the government you're either shot or never seen again. Boris Nemtsov, Alexander Litvenenko, Alexei Navalny, anyone. Frankly you should be happy you're reading this outside Russia and being able to comment here freely.

This is a really well made and honest movie, not some spielberg rubbish to deliberately create guilt by as part of the greater cash cow for a bunch of religeous and racial exceptionalists.

This very heavy movie is based on a mostly documented book by a communist writer, who was observing this kind of events when he was working between real chekists in a real Russian town shortly after October 1917 revolution. At that time, before 1923, the young writer/journalist was thinking that the revolutionary books should show true life. Soon he has been explained about his mistake. Himself did not survive 1937, was executed when a much more extended murder of Soviet people was organized; but we have got a book, published 52 years after the author death, and, later, this movie, showing what he was observing in the very early years of Soviet Union. Due to the personal involvement of the author, practically participating in the events, psychological conflicts inside of a person (main "hero" of the movie) are shown. It is clearly seen, that not only those, killed by dozens in cellars cannot survive the "revolution", but also murderers will not be able to stay human and keep consciousness and reason, when are involved in such atrocities.

The above reviews have captured "The Chekist" pretty well. It's all that! But above all, extremely sad. Absolutely pitiful that men like this actually existed and committed the same atrocities as depicted here. Some of the scenes are hair-raising, as these poor people meekly and silently accept their fate and are slaughtered without trial or mercy.

I have not seen the movie in a few years, but it one of the ONES that will always stick with me. I can still hear the echoes of the pistol shots that resound with a horrific "BANG". And of course, the bodies. The treatment these people received is beyond what I can say. This film is almost must see, but I can understand why someone would prefer not to watch it. To watch this classic is to understand that it probably will stay with you for a very long time. And it should.