I just saw this on Sundance last night.
I was interested in seeing what life was like in a village near Chernoble 16 years after the disaster. Instead, I was treated to a picture of life with the earth whose only interference from money was a monthly check from the state that seemed to go mostly to vodka. The movie isn't about radioactivity, it just happens to take place in a village whose demographics were changed by Chernoble.
The story revolves around one man, 37 years old, who stays behind in his village after most people left following the Chernoble disaster. At the center of their village is a spring which provides clean, non-radioactive water. The food they eat and most other things around them are radioactive.
Alexei is surrounded by elderly people, average age 73. (I think that's what they said.) To most westerners, their life would appear to be a living hell. To me their self-sufficiency is amazing. They grow or make everything they need. The strength of these old men and women is amazing, especially considering the way they chug vodka like water (Though I'm sure that they don't do that every day.)
I just loved the scenes of these people making lumber from trees with little or no help from gasoline. They grow all their own food with some help from some horses. They also have a wheat thrasher. If you could imagine the polar opposite of living next door to wal-Mart, you could imagine their lives. I would probably hate it (says my rational brain); but a lot of me wishes I could be putting my blood sweat and tears into living off the earth instead of getting fat at a computer terminal and paying taxes for an unjust war. (If this last comment offends you, this isn't a good movie for you, go see Rambo again - it's easy to tell the good guys from the bad guys)
The cinematography doesn't try to be dramatic, but the landscape can't help but to be. Unless you have some personal issues with alcohol, this movie is bound to relax you.
The movie is a bit slow like their way of life, but I recommend it.
There was one issue that did not seem to be resolved. Our star, Alexei, seems to have physical problems. He is strong and capable, but he walks with a severe limp. I am not sure if he was born this way, or if this was a result of Chernoble.
I recommend this movie.