Citizen X (1995) (TV)

User Rating:

7.7/10   

Director:

Chris Gerolmo

Writers (WGA):

Robert Cullen (book)
Chris Gerolmo (teleplay)

Release Date:

25 February 1995 (USA)

Genre:

Crime | Drama | Thriller

Tagline:

You don't want to know what he does... You just want to know when he's caught.

Plot:

Based on the true story of a Russian serial killer who, over many years, claimed victim to over 50 people...

Plot Keywords:

Serial Killer | Detective | Investigation | Murder | Child Murder

Awards:

Won Golden Globe. Another 8 wins & 11 nominations

Cast

Stephen Rea	...	Lt. Viktor Burakov
Donald Sutherland	...	Col. Mikhail Fetisov
Max von Sydow	...	Dr. Alexandr Bukhanovsky
Jeffrey DeMunn	...	Andrei Chikatilo
Joss Ackland	...	Bondarchuk
John Wood	...	Gorbunov
Radu Amzulescu	...	Federenko
Imelda Staunton	...	Mrs. Burakova
András Bálint	...	Ignatiev
Géza Balkay	...	Procurator
László Váradi Balogh	...	Peasant
Zsolt Biro	...	Older Gay Man
Ion Caramitru	...	Tatevsky
Balázs Csapo	...	Gayy Partner
Imre Csuja	...	Front Detective

MPAA:

Rated R for strong, graphic violence and related language.

Runtime:

105 min

Country:

USA

Language:

English

Colour:

Colour (DeLuxe) | Colour

Aspect Ratio:

1.33 : 1

Sound Mix:

Dolby

Certification:

Sweden:15 | Netherlands:16 | South Korea:18 | UK:18 (video premiere) (cut) | Spain:18 | USA:R | Norway:18 (video premiere)

Filming Locations:

Budapest, Hungary

Company:

Asylum Films

Goofs:

Continuity: The film spans twelve years, yet Lt. Viktor Burakov's children don't age.

Quotes:

Bukhanovsky: It is embarrassing to see grown men run from their responsibilities. It is like seeing your parents drunk for the first time. They are afraid. To be a psychiatrist in this country is to be an expert on paranoia... whether you meant to be or not.
Burakov: [to Dr. Buchanovsky] Why aren't you afraid?
Bukhanovsky: I'm sorry. Do I look like a man of courage to you? I've always been interested in abnormal psychology. Which is a dangerous thing in the Soviet state.
Burakov: [to Dr. Buchanovsky while Colonel Fetisov shakes the doctor's hand] He'd say something witty but he's overcome with emotion right now.
[...]

Movie Connections:

Featured in "Cinemania: Oi pio diavoitoi dolofonoi: Alithines istories!" (2009)

Superb film

There are some excellent comments and observations on this film. I was pleased to note the comparisons to Fritz Lang's "M" (forget the 50's abortive remake with lightweight David Wayne). The real villain is not the tortured murderer (extraordinarily fine performance by Jeffery DeMunn), taking out his sexually frustrated anger on his victims-- mostly children. He is the objective. The real villain is the stifling bureaucratic Soviet system, drowning in its own corrupted incompetence. The frustration of an uncompromisingly dedicated man (Rea in his best role since "The Crying Game"), a facile pragmatist who's willing to use the system to his advantage (Sutherland always successful in this kind of role), a hesitant, frightened but determined psychiatrist (the incomparable Max Sydow), the bumbling, boopous bureaucrat of a prosecutor (brilliant Brit actor John Wood) and the quiet, supporting wife of the driven investigator (delightful supporter, Imelda Staunton). This is one damn fine film. Its darkness and bleakness are supported by the portrayal of a corrupt, incompetent system which works against success. The is no need to dip into gore-laden slice 'n dice sensationalism that has characterized so many recent films. Gore is present-- it's a ghastly story-- but it adds to the depicting of a pathologically twisted human being. The success of the story is precisely that: these were acts perpetrated by a person, a human like you or I. Where you and I choose to vent our frustration by reasonable means, Chikatilo took his anger out on the most innocent and vulnerable of us, our children. The superb premise of this story is made manifest by an equally superb cast of excellent actors. --sadly, I note that our Australian friend didn't like the speech and no doubt would have preferred to hear them speaking in Aussie dialect. Well, too bad. This fine film sure worked for me and everyone else I've talked with who has seen it.