Tueur à gages

The tragic fate of a small family man pressed by life's problems to the limit. The film is extremely authentic, one gets the impression that it was filmed from one frame, a documentary picture of a merciless time of transition, life and economic lack of prospects for a better tomorrow, erosion of morals, flourishing of corruption and capital. A great film for Kazakhstan, with an exceptional feeling of the director for framing and weaving the film's story. The main actor causes understanding and empathy. The film raises many moral questions, for example what we would not or would do if we found ourselves in a similar situation. When, after watching the film, the question of human existence and the struggle of a lonely individual to survive and save his family is raised, I cannot help but remember the Bulgarian film Zift.

a young man gets into an accident. he now owes people money. he lives in present day Almaty, Kazakhstan, where jobs are scarce. he turns to dubious characters for help which leads him deeper and deeper into trouble. i really enjoyed this movie for a number of reasons. first up, it gives us a glimpse of present day Kazakhstan which is very real. you get a feel for the city, it's inhabitants and what kind of struggles they are going through. the acting by the lead actors (poor state run art school students ??) is also very refreshing. rather that emoting like crazy, they seem almost resigned to the fate that is being inflicted upon them. it is the sort of desperate calm that truly happens in life, rather than Hollywood manufactured fake emotions. i also enjoyed getting a glimpse of this vintage post communism society. only communism has not gone away, it's ghost still lingers and the people ache for it. the certainty of a job, security, the apparatus they are used to. the director reflects on this is some side monologues, but thankfully does not get heavy on it. the ending of the movie is rather abrupt, but seems completely plausible within the context of what is going on in that country right now. watch this one, you will not regret it.