Viktor Sukhorukov Movies

A man of faith uses his gifts in disturbing ways in this drama infused with the supernatural. In 1942, Anatoly (Timofei Tribuntzev) was a sailor in the Russian Navy when his ship was captured by German troops and Anatoly was offered a terrible choice -- he would be allowed to live, but only if he would execute his commanding officer, Captain Tikhon (Aleksei Zelenski). Anatoly impulsively shot Tikhon, and thirty-four years later, Anatoly (now played by Pyotr Mamonov) is still punishing himself for this desperate act. Anatoly lives a Spartan existence in a tumble-down shack near a monastery, where he tends to the furnaces and serves Father Filaret (Viktor Sukhorukov), who lacks Anatoly's rigorous discipline of self-denial, and Father Job (Dmitry Dyuzhev), who treats his willing servant like a slave. While the staff at the monastery prefer not to acknowledge it, Anatoly has developed an unusual reputation in the village -- it's believed he has a gift of prophecy and can heal through faith, but while Anatoly is willing to use these talents, he will only do so for those who are willing to renounce all their worldly possessions and give their lives to the Lord. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

A teenage boy is thrown into a world of love, death, and deception in this powerful drama. Mustafa (Olzhas Nusuppaev) is a 15-year old boy living in Kazakhstan in the early 1990s. Nicknamed "Schizo" by his schoolmates because of several incidents of emotional instability, Mustafa left school and works for Sakura (Eduard Tabischev), his mother's boyfriend, who helps to organize bare-knuckle boxing tournaments for a cadre of bookmakers. Mustafa's job is to find likely fighters for Sakura, and one of the first prospects he brings in is Ali (Gairatzhan Tokhgibakier), who is only a few years older than Mustafa himself. Ali is matched against a large and experienced heavyweight and does not survive the fight; as he lies dying, Ali gives Mustafa all his money and asks him to deliver it to Zinka (Olga Landina), Ali's girlfriend and the mother of his five-year-old daughter. But Mustafa doesn't have the heart to tell Zinka that Ali has died and delivers the money with a story that her boyfriend has gone missing. Mustafa is quite taken with Zinka and begins spending most of his spare time with her; Zinka eventually catches on to the fact Ali is not coming back and persuades Mustafa to set up her uncle Zhaken (Bazkitbek Baimuzhanbetov) in one of Sakura's fights. An experienced boxer, Zhaken wins the fight and splits the purse with Zinka, who decides to accept Mustafa as her new beau. Schizo is the first feature film from screenwriter and actress Guka Omarova. ~ Mark Deming, Rovi

Alexlei Balabanov (Brother) directed this period film, set in turn-of-the-century St. Petersburg, where a middle-class family and an upper-class family both become intertwined with pornographic photographer Johann (Sergei Makovetsky). Dr. Stasov (Alexandr Mezentsev) treats railroad engineer Radlov (Igor Shibanov). Johann takes an interest in the doctor's maid (Tatyana Polonskaya) and Radlov's daughter (Dinara Drukarova), Johann's sister Grunya (Darya Lesnikova) is Radlov's mistress, Johann is thwarted in his lust for Lisa -- until Grunya takes over Radlov's estate after the engineer's death. Filmed with a tint to resemble sepia photographs of the period. Shown in the Directors Fortnight section at the 1998 Cannes Film Festival. ~ Bhob Stewart, Rovi

Two disparate people come together in this odd-ball Russian-French black comedy. Seryozha, an ex-convict and Vera, a middle-aged introvert, come together after he steals her purse. They end up on the lam after Seryozha stabs a hostel worker. They end up in an empty village and soon discovered they are in the midst of an area contaminated by radiation. Three bandits also come through and Seryozha puts them into the village hoosegow and proceeds to torture them. When they become allies, he releases them. ~ Sandra Brennan, Rovi

In this film, Russia is plagued by the actions of the Pushkin Club, who attempt to forcibly free the Russian citizens from the influences of Western culture. This movie is in Russian with English subtitles. ~ Iotis Erlewine, Rovi