The Search

I'm Chechen and I've seen the war in my country. This story is only a simple story from a hundred of thousands other stories of Russian- Chechen wars.

As someone that have seen the war, it was very difficult for me to watch this movie, I'm a man and I was watching it with the tears in my eyes, it has reminded me all the horrible dark nights in my country.

I'm honestly thankful to Mr. Michel Hazanavicius. It's very obvious that he did not make this movie for money and success but because he thought that someone has to tell the truth.

You will see many people saying that this movie has a political goals, anti-Russia propaganda etc and etc, however truth is truth neither you like it or not. Those are mainly people who did not suffer even a 1% of pain that Chechen people did. at least 35% of Chechens were killed in last two wars, about 40.000 of them were children. They burned people alive, just simple example, google "Samashki massacre" and thats from the war in 1994. The Search is about the second war 1999 which was much worst than the previous war. The history of Chechnya and Russia is horrible, there been so many wars in last 400 years, the history is indeed horrible.

This movie shows a very little percent of what was really happening in Chechnya, however it tells the truth, It's very disappointing that now days not many people really wants to hear the truth, not much people do really care and that's what movie tells as well.

The genocide of Jewish people, the genocide of Chechen and all the other people genocides, those are not only problem of certain people/nation but the problem and the issue of the world and all the people.

This is a very honest and based on a true stories movie, this isn't a comedy and action for fun, this is a movie that made with heart for the people that still care.

--- Dear Michel Hazanavicius,

Thank you very much for this movie from all the Chechen people around the world, one day in Independent Chechen Republic you will be our most welcomed guest. We believe in it.

So sad to see that the evaluation of this beautiful movie is negatively affected by so many 1-star evaluations from nationalistic Russians who can't stand seeing the truth about war.

The war in Czechia has been so devastating. So much death and cruelty. And all the war crimes are very well documented by international organisations so there's zero actual propaganda in this movie.

The movie is touching. And It's beautifully shot and directed.

This film is a tad long and sad, but well worth watching. The topic is still important and the film shows how war brutalises people and how the international community turns a blind eye.

There are several reviews here that have been witten by Russian trolls that did not even bother to watch the film. In reality does the film strike a reasonable balance in portraying the russian solidiers. Ie not all russian solidiers are bad and not all Checehens are good. The depiction of how solidiers anre brutalised in an unjust war is not much different from the one in "Full Metal Jacket".

Both Kolja and Hadji produce very strong acting performances and Anette Benning shines as the all too overworked aid worker

Thanks to the producer for the courage to create such masterpiece. This is one of the movies that forced me to think about meaning of life and the cruelty of Russians. After the movie I immediately logged to internet to search who created this and to express my admiration and gratitude.

This is a remake of a 1948 movie with the same name, but with a second story along side the updated original. Like the original movie, this will tug at your heart by displaying the real cost of war. But unlike the original, this movie not only shows the "victim" side through the use of a homeless little child, it also shows the "victimization" of 18 year old boys, those having to fight. This movie is a bit gory, but is very respectful and does not show gratuitous gore. The movie seems to develop slowly, a style many who enjoy European movies have come to expect. However, unlike many European movies, this one has a nice "twist" at the end that is likely to put a smile on your face, in the midst of the horrors and realities of war. The two stories are only tied together at the very end and only in a brief, somewhat unsatisfying way. But if one understands that the movie is reflecting on how awful war is on young lives, it does make sense. Slow, moving and powerful. Not the typical fast paced, complex and neatly wrapped up US production. If you want to watch, sit, relax and enjoy.