La fièvre de Petrov

This intriguing film starts off seeming like a day-in-the-life story of a comic book artist whose family is struggling and whose life has its share of challenges. Petrov is not feeling well: his entire family are suffering from flu during a pandemic (a concept all audience members can surely relate to) and he gets sicker as the day goes on. The film's realistic narrative and verité-style gradually give way to a story that weaves in memory, dream and fantasy in a subtle and compelling way. Much like its titular protagonist, this film has a gritty exterior that gradually reveals a soulful heart. I found it very haunting.

Petrov in the flu is a classic film from Serebrennikov. He will clearly enter the Western audience, because there is everything they associate Russia with. Life is drowned, everyone drinks, there is poverty and hopelessness around, and there is also a clear hat towards the USSR. I am for criticizing modern power, I am for an alternative view of Russia. The film takes place in Yekaterinburg, I myself from there, well, if the film talked about the events of the early 90s, I would still believe. Well, now there are no such libraries, theaters and apartments now. And the main plot in the film is not, it is just a set of scenes. I honestly do not understand for which audience the film was shot, it causes me only rejection.

Last night I watched Russian film. Name of film - Petrov's flu, very actual, because autumn is time when all people sick.ver This film had a difficult genre. It is mix genre: comedy, horror, thriller, romantic and etc. Finally I thought Petrov's flu is art movie from great modern director - Kirill Serebryanikov.

Film cast is very strong. A lot popular Russian actors starred in that film: amazing Chulpan Khamatova, interesting Yuri Kolokolnikov (I met this actor for Games of Thrones), Yuriy Borisov, Varvara Shmykova and Yuliya Peresild.

The film story about typical family suffering flu. The plot is big mix fantasy and reality. Viewers see aliens, violent kills and memories main character.

I liked all special effects and atmosphere soundtrack from modern Russian singers.

Dialogue is very funny and humorous. Director created very unpredictable plot. All film I not taked my eyes off the screen.

For me this film is moving, because I born 90's at South Ural in post-soviet time. In the moment subjective camera I really felt me child. It's unique experience for me.

My overall opinion. It is gripping, spectacular film full of strong statements and images.

If you want knew real Russian reality, be sure to watch.

If you want to watch a weird mismatched juxtaposition of ideas and dialogues with no discernible plot line watch this, it literally just steals your time.

Dubbed as controversial Sebrenikov is portrayed as the Russian Tarantino. The film is about someone having the flu during a pandemic, hilariously the person I'm with has a really bad cough, it's the only entertaining thing, the film is terrible 😂

To be honest, I don't really watch modern Russian movies, maybe one/two in a year, mostly due not very good reputation of the Russian film industry (the biggest, most expensive, advertised movies are quite often unforgivably bad and poor acted), but this one grabbed my attention. Firstly because it went to the Cannes, secondly because it sets in my hometown (Yekaterinburg) and after Cannes was premiered here earlier that anywhere else. So, I heard about this movie everywhere and the synopsis only increased my interest. I went to the cinema with a fear that I will be very very disappointed (again), BUT, to my big pleasure, Petrov's Flu is a very fine movie.

The story (which is based on novel by Alexey Salnikov) is mainly about a typical family, all members of which caught flu just before the New Year celebration. The plot is a mix of every-day-life situations, fantasies, hallucinations, flashbacks involving vampires, aliens, bloody killings, everything what a delirious mind could think of.

This movie astonishes you by it's craziness and unpredictability, but yet remains truthful to the what it represents. Serebryakov skillfully draws a picture of the middle and lower class people living in the provincial Russian city. Scenes in public transport are especially authentic, showing to audience the variety of characters and it's behaviours (a little bit exaggerated ones) distinctive for Russian realities. There are plenty of humorous and absurd situations mixed up with a philosophical "kitchen" talks about life, family, religion, politics, every other aspect of human existence, which so ingenuously conveys unique nature of nation.

Can't help but mention the cinematography, it's immaculate, so many interesting transitions, you can see an own well-developed author's style. The landscapes of the city are kind of theatrical, exaggeratedly dark, poor and dirty as if this is some made up city in a comic book like Gotham, what perfectly connects with the grotesqueness of the events shown in the movie.

Last, but not least, the acting. This part in modern Russian movies upsets me most often and I can't always tell why I didn't like a particular performance. At the first sight everything is fine, but something is off, like, you don't see real people, you see actors do their job and you just can't empathise with their characters because you fully aware that this is fiction and the magic of the cinema just disappears. !! BUT!!this movie is another case. For the first time IN A WHILE I really believed every word spoken, every move made on a screen. And that was the best feeling ever, knowing that there are some good actors and filmmakers left in this country.

That kind of movie for sure will not leave anyone indifferent. It's authentic, provoking, unique experience I 100 pro-cent recommend you to try.