Gromozeka (2010)
In present day Moscow three childhood friends in their forties - former school band players - live their everyday lives of a police officer, a taxi driver and a surgeon. They have lost track of each other. Three stories of betrayal, love and ageing are told in parallel. In fact, unknown to our heroes, their paths cross and their lives become connected. But they are not aware of it even when they reunite for a breaking performance at their graduation anniversary.
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Great Film overall
This is one of the few movies I've ever seen where the whole audience broke into spontaneous, loud applause a third of the way in.
While it doesn't offer any answers, it both thrills and makes you think.
The film's masterful storytelling did its job. The message was clear. No need to overdo.
In post communist Russia it's still a struggle to survive and not to lose hope. Three friends struggle in their own way just trying to get by. The story revolves around three rather mediocre individuals. Although it never gets deeply into politics or the effects of the current economy, the film manages to show how the average person deals with the macho society, the struggle and the lack of opportunity to make a decent income.It's not a comedy indeed but a little more lightheartedness wouldn't have hurt there where it soaks in irony. It suits the story well though since this is the life of many.
This film about three Russian people impressed me, although the way these three are connected (music group in their youth, many years ago) seemed a bit artificial to me. If you are prepared to ignore that, you'll see three story lines developing with their own merits each.As the film maker explained during the Q&A that followed the screening at the Rotterdam filmfestival 2011, comedy borders tragedy, and we should not overlook the positive side. In fact, all three are losers, each in their own way, but losers nevertheless. The film maker also pressed that no politics were involved. It is about reality, existing all over the world, and not primarily meant to be regarded as a critical view on life in Russia.