How Independent Russian Filmmakers Interpret Our Lives: Top Examples from the Podcast 'The Watcher'

We revisit the works of Balabanov, Bykov, and Zvyagintsev, explaining why their films are essential viewing.

When people hear the phrase "Russian cinema," many immediately roll their eyes. Some viewers have grown accustomed to critiquing domestic films, and unfortunately, this is often justified. However, Russia has produced and continues to produce many unique filmmakers who use the camera lens to mirror reality and deliver meaningful insights to viewers. Film critic Alexey Khromov from Lifehacker analyzes the most striking works of these masters and highlights the key strengths of their films.

01:42 — How Russian cinema evolved in the 1990s and why among dozens of crime films, "Brother" stands out.

02:56 — How Alexey Balabanov's work became a symbol of an era and the role of its soundtrack.

05:23 — Why fans embraced the sequel "Brother 2."

06:34 — "Cargo 200": A brutal dark drama or a profound, truthful film.

08:08 — Why Andrey Zvyagintsev's "Leviathan" sparked intense debates, its connection to real events in the USA, and why the film's ending was changed.

13:35 — How Yuri Bykov gained popularity and what makes his film "Major" compelling.

16:08 — Why "The Fool" is the director's most revealing work.

17:48 — Other notable films by these directors and what makes their cinema exceptional.

What to watch on this topic? We've compiled the films mentioned in the podcast:

• "Brother," directed by Alexey Balabanov, 1997.
• "Brother 2," directed by Alexey Balabanov, 2000.
• "I'm Not Hurt," directed by Alexey Balabanov, 2006.
• "Cargo 200," directed by Alexey Balabanov, 2007.
• "The Return," directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev, 2003.
• "Leviathan," directed by Andrey Zvyagintsev, 2014.
• "Major," directed by Yuri Bykov, 2013.
• "The Fool," directed by Yuri Bykov, 2014.
• "The Watcher," directed by Yuri Bykov, 2019.

Subscribe to the podcast "The Watcher" and listen on your preferred platform: Apple Podcasts, Yandex.Music, Anchor.fm, YouTube, VKontakte, RSS, and many more.

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