Akwarium

Do you know what does it stand for "G.R.U."? If NO - look this movie. The scenario of this movie has been based on the book of _real_ GRU guy, Viktor Suvorov (real name - Vladimir Bogdanovich Rezun). Through looking this movie you will met real work of Soviet intelligence, not casual Hollywood trash.

Based on an autobiography of a senior intelligence officer of Soviet GRU. It is a Polish-German-Ukrainian co-production and it is interesting that it is now very difficult to get a copy of this film - too close to the inconvenient truth? If you can get it with English subtitles - definitely see it, it is on pair with the best espionage thrillers. It shows a normal person being gradually pulled into ever more secret circles of the Soviet Military Intelligence, where to remain human becomes increasingly difficult. The rules are cruel, nobody is your friend - even if they appear to be so - and everyone is watching you. Top acting, well told (real) story, and a true and disturbing picture of life behind the Iron Curtain make this one a top movie. Janusz Gajos is excellent in his role - he stars as an experienced GRU officer, a mentor for the main character.

The film is based on series of books by Rezun Vladimirh Boghdanovich aka "Victor Suvorov", which described true story and events. I recommend it to watch as a counterweight to action-drama entertainment movies in "James Bond' style -- not to diminish quality of the latter, but to just realize, the actual inventions in real-world spying were even more weird, than the ones of ol' good Flemming. It may be significant, that the materials for the standalone version were also remixed as six episode TV series (atleast in Poland, but I think, this was shown in Germany, Austria and Ukraine broadcasting too). Somebody commented it as "Thriller" -- the most scaring thing is, it is all true...

It was very good. The story is very engaging and the actors did a very good job. A bit disappointed about the lengths I had to go through to obtain this movie with English subtitles.

This film is one of my absolute favorites.

It is very intelligent, gripping, the plot is written brilliantly and it seems so true and original that one immediately gets an impression of watching a documentary movie. Of course, what comes with it is that it is difficult and requires full attention so I am suspecting this is why it has such a low overall rating--it is probably not just for everybody.

It is one of these very few films that one can learn an awful lot of new information and gain an absolutely new perspective on our world.

Acting is also very good in the movie while directing is not perfect but still outstanding.