I didn't know what to expect from this movie when I came across it but in the end, I liked it very much.
The story is quite familiar, unattended children are lured and killed by a stranger, amidst what looks like general indifference but turns out to be general denial, because of the place (former USSR) and the time (Stalin period). We follow the story of a policeman, member of the tough MGB (later KGB), his sour marriage, his professional disgrace and the way he accidentally investigates the crimes.
It clearly reminded me of another movie with Donald Sutherland (Citizen X), I discovered later that they are actually related (same real-life story of a serial killer in Russia).
I think the movie should have been a bit longer, more looked into. Characters (except the hero) are a bit superficial, we don't get to see what drives them. The end of the investigation is thus a bit hurried. It looks like the murderer knows the hero? In such a big country I found it hard to believe.
Nonetheless I got into it. Unlike some, I didn't mind with the (fake) Russian accent, on the contrary it helped me focus on the place. The actors are not so likable, but there's some kind of redemption (and payback for the villains).
Interesting, challenging... In short, it's a good movie.
The story is quite familiar, unattended children are lured and killed by a stranger, amidst what looks like general indifference but turns out to be general denial, because of the place (former USSR) and the time (Stalin period). We follow the story of a policeman, member of the tough MGB (later KGB), his sour marriage, his professional disgrace and the way he accidentally investigates the crimes.
It clearly reminded me of another movie with Donald Sutherland (Citizen X), I discovered later that they are actually related (same real-life story of a serial killer in Russia).
I think the movie should have been a bit longer, more looked into. Characters (except the hero) are a bit superficial, we don't get to see what drives them. The end of the investigation is thus a bit hurried. It looks like the murderer knows the hero? In such a big country I found it hard to believe.
Nonetheless I got into it. Unlike some, I didn't mind with the (fake) Russian accent, on the contrary it helped me focus on the place. The actors are not so likable, but there's some kind of redemption (and payback for the villains).
Interesting, challenging... In short, it's a good movie.