Buben, baraban

A classic realistic psychological Russian drama film. Very difficult to watch, slow and deliberate, an art movie. Shot in a decrepit mining town, somewhere in the forgotten post-Soviet provinces. Bleak and desolate, it offers the perfect backdrop for the sadly flawed and run-down characters. A former Russian Navy captain laid off, a librarian and her assistant, a shady dentist, are the main characters. I am not versed in the film-school speak, but there are a lot of brutal long closeups, scrutinizing and revealing the actors a lot. The actors had done a great job, there is a lot of psychological stuff and nuances, and it feels realistic. 2,3 minute scenes, portraits of characters, no music at all. A solemn atmosphere of despair. I saw it in a film festival, afterward I went to have a beer. Incredibly depressing, not for the faint of heart.