Kompromat

Jerome Salle seems to be specialized in adventure thrillers: LARGO WINCH 1 and 2, ZULU, only THE ODYSSEY was not a thriller. But this movie definitely is. And the Russian element in this film released just during the war in Ukraine sounds very strange, what a coincidence. Well this is a classical international thriller with no great surprise, except an excellent directing and acting, but where nothing is done to attract tourists to visit Russia and its tolerance, his friendly behavior towards foreigners; I mean the authorities, not the common folk. Gilles Lelouche is awesome, as usual. A bit long, though and I repeat, unfortunately predictable.

What promised to be a great movie, loosely based on real events, turned into a soap full of clichés and turns of events that lack verisimilitude. It is really sad that the screewriter/ the director felt the need to pack the film with over the top dramatic unrealistic eye-roll worthy plots and twists on top of the core storyline, wherever some understatement and restraint could have made this a great film. This story didn't deserve to be turned into melodramatic fromage.

However, the portrayal of the Russian system, specifically the prison and the people' interactions are realistic enough. The acting is great as well. It is entertaining enough for you to wait till the very expected end.

The term "kompromat" refers to a form of blackmail used by the Russian authorities to gain leverage over individuals, and it's a concept at the heart of this gripping thriller which is very loosely based on actual events.

Mathieu (Gilles Lellouche), a member of the French institute in Irkutsk, is arrested overnight by the Russian authorities and accused of a crime he did not commit. He soon realizes he is being used as a scapegoat in an elaborate setup orchestrated to frame him for a crime that never happened.

Left alone and isolated with no one to turn to, Mathieu must find a way to prove his innocence and escape. The journey is filled with tense moments as he navigates through corrupt officials, threats of violence, and an atmosphere of despair.

Gilles Lellouche gives a powerful performance in the lead role, conveying Mathieu's emotions with nuance and intensity. His performance is complemented by a top-notch supporting cast, making the movie an engaging experience. The cinematography is also noteworthy as it captures the claustrophobic atmosphere and oppressive mood of the setting.

The themes of KOMPROMAT also have a contemporary immediacy given the currently tense relationships between Russia and other European countries. It tells an important story about a system designed to control and manipulate its citizens and gives us insight into how our liberties can be taken away.

KOMPROMAT did feel a bit too long, but its intricate plot and detailed character development created a compelling narrative that kept me riveted until the very end.

A tale of fateful mysterious encounters. A promoter of culture a work horse is very well portrayed by Gilles. Something that's frequently remarkable about European cinema is quietness that builds up anxiousness. Kompromat got that distracting silence to which the thrills gets bombarded. A beautiful love story that's ill-fated yet pure and childish. Joanna Kulig was perfect in portraying the woman lost between worlds. Rest of the cast put up sincere performances too. Cinematography is excellent adapting to the mood of each moment. Kompromat is a simple story that's told right. Worth the time spent.

This is the kind of movie that everyone living in civilised and comfortable prosperous calm world must see. Everyone just living his own life, enjoying moments with friends and family. But if you live in Russia, it is like if Alice on the other side of the mirror. As soon as in nowadays Russia, you will easily learn that the rule of law doesn't exist. That anyone with even smallest grasp of power uses it to his own benefit. That human life is worthless - own citizens, and foreigners - even less. That there are no logical explanation nor motives for prosecuting or jailing an innocent man. Everything runs on an almost medieval barbaric logic. All that is Russia nowadays.