Chekist

A small Russian town in the early 1900's is the backdrop for this deeply disturbing film about a group of communist revolutionaries called the cheka-men who spend their days rounding up their political rivals for execution.

The majority of the film takes place inside the basement of a charnel house. We are witnesses to execution after execution as people are killed with rapid expediency and professionalism. Men, women and children are forced to strip, stand against a wall, and then are shot. When the dead are removed, five more are brought in and the atrocity is committed again.

There is not a moments reprieve from the brutality as director Rogozhkin plants the camera and the story inside that basement. I found his examination of the assassin's mindset most interesting. Early on, the cheka-men seem indifferent to their jobs, but as the film winds down, we see that all the killing has slowly begun to erode their very souls.

Igor Sergeyev is amazing as the ambitious chekist who finds himself caught up in a machine of death that he helped to create and slowly losing his mind.

The film is like passing a car accident on a highway, it's horrible and you might not like what you see but you can't take your eyes off of it. A disturbing film that is hard to forget.

I have seen this movie, and must say that it is what someone sees on the brink of madness. The only qualm i had was its portrayal of the officer as the hero. He was made out to look the part as a good guy, where in reality he made the decisions. Is not an officer above the law more responsible for his decisions then his brethren, only to fall short of some fictitious reality??? He shows release by death and this death is not real, a trophy for a killer giving path to a monolithic person above billions of disappeared. My personifage of this character is simply this, the fear of all fears is one's mind. Not to be the judgementor, but the movie screams terror far surpassing the characters in Jacob's ladder, or even apocalypse now in lunacy. This man is a destroyer of world's yet lives like a rat knawing for air. The headless horseman, the idle terror that lurks in the minds of others to have one struck down by this "idol." An idol who does this for a job does all that has come before it and has deserved his mother's supper. An elaborate decadence on part of the fugitive. This movie shows that fear IS the mind killer without one word. Signifying a gang. Much like Rumblefish yet the officer's character is in league with any I have not seen as of yet. This personality is generosity of a sick nature put to life. If murderers can move about their daily tasks, climb ahead spiritually, why not humble men? a better question, why not the telemarketing machine that is Hollywood? Hence the great purge prior to the Jewish holocaust of killing nearly 1 million semite aryan civilians by the jews, turks and dravidians of our modern age is indeed true. If you like this movie, try leo tolstoy, for russians have the uncanny ability of recreating history with unbelievable realistic incarnations of their own past.

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.

This movie is definitely one of the darkest views on the Red Terror genocide that took place in 1918-1921 in Russia. Totally gripping and shocking as it can be...My opinion is that this movie reveals more historic facts than any other such movies about genocide(Schindler List,Hotel Rwanda) and unlike Hollywood sappy crap,this has no sentimental characters,only the bloody and merciless face of Russian revolution. Actors play is absolutely realistic,execution scenes are deeply disturbing.Probably the most shocking Russian film in years(even more shocking than 4) If you want to have an unforgettable evening,see it...it will stick in your mind for a long time! Rogozhkin should have stick up with this kind of movies...not like he does now,about Russian hunting and vodka bar.

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.