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The Saratov Approach

  • 2013
  • PG-13
  • 1h 47m
IMDb RATING
5.5/10
2.2K
YOUR RATING
The Saratov Approach (2013)
Two missionaries are kidnapped and held for ransom while serving in Russia.
Play trailer2:25
4 Videos
2 Photos
DocudramaActionDramaThriller

This riveting drama tells the true story of two young American Mormon missionaries held captive and brutalized for a week in a remote part of Russia.This riveting drama tells the true story of two young American Mormon missionaries held captive and brutalized for a week in a remote part of Russia.This riveting drama tells the true story of two young American Mormon missionaries held captive and brutalized for a week in a remote part of Russia.

  • Director
    • Garrett Batty
  • Writer
    • Garrett Batty
  • Stars
    • Corbin Allred
    • Maclain Nelson
    • Nikita Bogolyubov
  • See production info at IMDbPro
  • IMDb RATING
    5.5/10
    2.2K
    YOUR RATING
    • Director
      • Garrett Batty
    • Writer
      • Garrett Batty
    • Stars
      • Corbin Allred
      • Maclain Nelson
      • Nikita Bogolyubov
    • 36User reviews
    • 5Critic reviews
  • See production info at IMDbPro
    • Awards
      • 6 wins & 7 nominations total

    Videos4

    Theatrical Trailer
    Trailer 2:25
    Theatrical Trailer
    The Saratov Approach
    Clip 2:48
    The Saratov Approach
    The Saratov Approach
    Clip 2:48
    The Saratov Approach
    The Saratov Approach
    Clip 2:43
    The Saratov Approach
    The Saratov Approach (Clip 1)
    Clip 2:42
    The Saratov Approach (Clip 1)

    Photos1

    View Poster

    Top cast28

    Edit
    Corbin Allred
    Corbin Allred
    • Elder Tuttle
    Maclain Nelson
    Maclain Nelson
    • Elder Propst
    Nikita Bogolyubov
    Nikita Bogolyubov
    • Nikolai
    Alex Veadov
    Alex Veadov
    • Sergei
    Jennifer Erekson
    Jennifer Erekson
    • Mary Propst
    Bruce Newbold
    Bruce Newbold
    • Lee Propst
    Peggy Matheson
    • Donna Tuttle
    Paul Mulder
    Paul Mulder
    • Mr. Tuttle
    Brett Merritt
    • Mark Larsen
    Bart Johnson
    Bart Johnson
    • Senator Smith
    Shawn Carter
    Shawn Carter
    • Agent Ross
    Rocky Myers
    Rocky Myers
    • Agent Miller
    Brit Server
    • Agent Garza
    Christopher S. Clark
    • Agent Bair
    Dale Dixon
    • News Anchor
    William Rubio
    William Rubio
    • News Anchor
    Vladimir Movchan
    Vladimir Movchan
    • Vladdy
    Eduard Dzhafarov
    • Saratov Branch President
    • (as Eduard Dzafarov)
    • Director
      • Garrett Batty
    • Writer
      • Garrett Batty
    • All cast & crew
    • Production, box office & more at IMDbPro

    User reviews36

    5.52.2K
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    Featured reviews

    7caf-19

    It's a clean, compelling, competent movie. Watch it!

    So my husband picked out the movie this night. He mostly likes movies that "Are real". This movie is based on a true situation that did occur with some Mormon Missionaries. So guess what? It's going to be about 1) Mormons 2) Religious faith 3) Religious faith during times of intense trouble. Most people cannot deal with this subject matter in a mature or objective way anymore, preferring instead to be titillated by the glut of porn, violence, horror, and Computer Animated silliness.

    I found this film a refreshing break from the endless morass of film mediocrity. An interesting story told without gratuitous sex, endless F-Bombs, or piles of oozing intestines falling out on the floor - imagine that?
    2jegpad

    You need blind faith to endure this Rasputin v. Tintin mush

    Be highly aware that the positive reviews written here are driven by the religion of the writers.

    The score is truly appalling, ill-fitted to the context, almost constant throughout the film and extremely irritating.

    The narrative is cardboard cut-out in it's execution and as convincing in it's delivery as the fable that the founder of the Latter Day Saint movement, Joseph Smith, was directed to golden plates buried near his home by an angel. (Oh, and the angel repossessed the plates before they ever saw the light of day - convenient eh?).

    If you want to watch a couple of preppies handcuffed to a radiator for 90 minutes, be my guest.
    5bkoganbing

    Kidnapped Elders

    A couple of passing Mormon Elders steered me to this film and I have to say it was not a bad choice. Filmed in both Salt Lake City and Kiev, The Saratov Approach is about two Mormon Elders on their mission in the Russian city of Saratov who are kidnapped by a pair of would be criminals and the LDS church itself given a ransom notice.

    As a tenet of the faith these young men and occasionally women do go on these two year missions to spread the faith. In that time if one is converted by them it's gravy. The meat and potatoes is to spread good will for the Church of Latter Day Saints. So Elders Propst and Tuttle are doing just that in the Russian they've learned in preparation for this assignment.

    Corbin Allred and MacLain Nelson do a good job in roles they are clearly too old for. Missionaries are usually 18 to 25 and the real Propst and Tuttle are identified as 23 and 20 in an article I read on the case. All the Mormon Elders I've ever encountered were about that age and the most recent two who recommended this film looked barely out of high school. In fact had they gotten two who looked like them to play Propst and Tuttle the film would have been better because the vulnerability would have increased exponentially.

    Alex Veadov and champion skater Nikita Bogolyubov play the kidnappers. Veadov is a Russian navy veteran and Bogolyubov just a follower in over his head. On certain levels the Elders do bond with the kidnappers, but it's hardly a Patty Hearst situation.

    The Saratov Approach is a nice film that would have been better with different casting of the Elders. It's also a commercial for the LDS church, but that's to be expected.

    And this review is dedicated to those passing Mormon Elders Reed and Hamilton both from rural parts of Utah who recommended The Saratov Approach as good material to review.
    4Raul4ever

    Your quick guide to Christianity

    Alright I watched the whole thing but not from love for the movie or a curiosity to know the climax (which is very predictable) but just because I liked the music score and I found the acting decent. Also because I had some time to kill.

    The storyline is of two Christian missionaries being kidnapped for ransom and the ordeal they have to go through. Sounds like a Good tale right? NO, the problems come from them repeatedly giving their thoughts on Christianity and Jesus almost every time they talk (other than the bit where they talk about the NBA). Towards the end, the preaching started to grate on my nerves and also the other scenes where their families were being shown.

    In short, if you are Christian and believe that the Christ is your savior and died for your sins, then go ahead and watch it. Others, just stay away. The 4 in my rating is for the music score and I quite liked the Russians.
    6jedi-bob-582-180583

    Almost as good as Saints and Soldiers

    I like the direction that LDS cinema is starting to take. I heard about this movie from my uncle, who had just finished his mission in Russia when this story was happening, so he had some close personal connection to it. And the film turned out about like I expected it to, which is not a bad thing.

    The first thing audiences will notice is the excessive use of hand-held camera, Bourne-style but in the wrong genre of film. Hand-held was a good choice generally, but every single shot was bobbing and moving around, often so much that it pulled me out of the story and reminded me that there's a camera in the room, a camera that won't sit still.

    The next thing I noticed was that the camera assistants were not that good--focus was noticeably soft on a bunch of the shots, and many of the rack focuses were either too fast or too slow. I have worked on plenty of student productions that did much better than that.

    The screenplay was pretty decent, actually. I am a screenwriter, so this is the area I pick on most closely, and they did all right. I felt like they relied too much on tears and violins to create emotional tension, but that happens in every single LDS film so I won't complain about that. I would have done some things differently, like not shown the ex-missionary who calls the parents, or given the parents something to do other than mill around the house looking concerned and/or crying. But the story moves forward in a way that builds tension and sets the stakes high, but allows room for some powerful moments.

    On the whole, I would set this movie on the shelf right next to Saints and Soldiers. LDS cinema in general hasn't gotten to the point where it can really compete with Hollywood, but as far as LDS cinema goes The Saratov Approach is a pretty solid addition.

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    Storyline

    Edit

    Did you know

    Edit
    • Trivia
      According to Andrew Lee Propst, he and Tuttle were blindfolded and had their feet tied together for nearly all of their captivity. Obviously, this would have been hard to film.
    • Connections
      Referenced in Once I Was Engaged (2021)

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    FAQ17

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    Details

    Edit
    • Release date
      • October 9, 2013 (United States)
    • Countries of origin
      • United States
      • Ukraine
    • Official site
      • Official site
    • Languages
      • English
      • Russian
    • Also known as
      • Саратовский подход
    • Filming locations
      • Kyiv, Ukraine
    • Production companies
      • Saratov Films
      • Three Coin Productions
    • See more company credits at IMDbPro

    Box office

    Edit
    • Gross US & Canada
      • $2,146,999
    • Opening weekend US & Canada
      • $137,226
      • Oct 13, 2013
    • Gross worldwide
      • $2,146,999
    See detailed box office info on IMDbPro

    Tech specs

    Edit
    • Runtime
      • 1h 47m(107 min)
    • Color
      • Color
    • Aspect ratio
      • 2.35 : 1

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