One of best post-perestroika Russian movies. A girl becomes a prostitute, then gets a chance to leave Russia and have a normal family. But it's beyond her. Longing for motherland, not very friendly strangers around, no love, no mom, all of this leads her to death (presumably).
Elena Yakovleva is at her best as always. She is so perfect, so real. And so Russian :)
In general it's not really very interesting movie, just a glance into Russia after perestroika, when so many things got ruined. And maybe in a way a hint to those so many girls leaving Russia in search for better life. There is no place like home, you know...
I advise to watch it, I watched it yesterday and it was so nice, so many flashbacks. Mind you, now Russia has changed drastically since then. Still one of best movies made after perestroika, we haven't got that many nice movies yet as in Soviet time, whatever they say, but majority of Russians long for that time, when everything was so simple and stable. When state took care of citizens (OK OK sometimes maybe overtook) and didn't just rob them as now.
As for the previous comment - yes, Ingeborga is a good actress. And Lithuanian, so what, unlike some other countries (we know yes what we are talking about), we always welcome all people, not depending on their nationality. Russians just don't care if Lithuanian or Georgian, we have a lot and it's normal. There is no bad feeling. OK, Soviet Union doesn't exist anymore, but we don't blame any other nationality in our problems :-P
