Kompromat - Die Macht der Lüge

I have seen most of the films that won Oscars this year, 2025. I will not mention them, because they are so bad that they do not deserve to be mentioned. I almost lose faith in the art of cinema and even in human being, because of the banality of these films. Meanwhile, high-quality films like this french one are forgotten in some streaming system and few people watch them. This is a suspense film that has all the requirements of a great film, everything about it is top notch: Acting, photography, editing, soundtrack, script. In short, it is a film that shows that the art of cinema still has a lot of breath and will not die any time soon. Thank you to the producers who made this gem, it is really good.

The term "kompromat" refers to a form of blackmail used by the Russian authorities to gain leverage over individuals, and it's a concept at the heart of this gripping thriller which is very loosely based on actual events.

Mathieu (Gilles Lellouche), a member of the French institute in Irkutsk, is arrested overnight by the Russian authorities and accused of a crime he did not commit. He soon realizes he is being used as a scapegoat in an elaborate setup orchestrated to frame him for a crime that never happened.

Left alone and isolated with no one to turn to, Mathieu must find a way to prove his innocence and escape. The journey is filled with tense moments as he navigates through corrupt officials, threats of violence, and an atmosphere of despair.

Gilles Lellouche gives a powerful performance in the lead role, conveying Mathieu's emotions with nuance and intensity. His performance is complemented by a top-notch supporting cast, making the movie an engaging experience. The cinematography is also noteworthy as it captures the claustrophobic atmosphere and oppressive mood of the setting.

The themes of KOMPROMAT also have a contemporary immediacy given the currently tense relationships between Russia and other European countries. It tells an important story about a system designed to control and manipulate its citizens and gives us insight into how our liberties can be taken away.

KOMPROMAT did feel a bit too long, but its intricate plot and detailed character development created a compelling narrative that kept me riveted until the very end.

This is the kind of movie that everyone living in civilised and comfortable prosperous calm world must see. Everyone just living his own life, enjoying moments with friends and family. But if you live in Russia, it is like if Alice on the other side of the mirror. As soon as in nowadays Russia, you will easily learn that the rule of law doesn't exist. That anyone with even smallest grasp of power uses it to his own benefit. That human life is worthless - own citizens, and foreigners - even less. That there are no logical explanation nor motives for prosecuting or jailing an innocent man. Everything runs on an almost medieval barbaric logic. All that is Russia nowadays.

This is kind of exactly what I have against French movies. The story is good, the actors are good, the images are good, but the way it is filmed is way too long. It's as if there are 2 different kinds of movies, the comedies and the artsy ones. This one tries to be artsy, with pan shots, and repeating itself so that we understand how much the poor guy waited. I love movies, and I love movies that are a piece of art, because it's gorgeous, and yet it keeps you interested throughout, without needong to take a nap. But this one fails at it. It felt very long, which transpired with me looking at my watch around the 1 hour mark to see how long I was supposed to stay there still. I think the real story of Yoann Barbereau would have been better, rather than VERY loosely basing the movie on it. So much questions remain in the end. Too bad...

A tale of fateful mysterious encounters. A promoter of culture a work horse is very well portrayed by Gilles. Something that's frequently remarkable about European cinema is quietness that builds up anxiousness. Kompromat got that distracting silence to which the thrills gets bombarded. A beautiful love story that's ill-fated yet pure and childish. Joanna Kulig was perfect in portraying the woman lost between worlds. Rest of the cast put up sincere performances too. Cinematography is excellent adapting to the mood of each moment. Kompromat is a simple story that's told right. Worth the time spent.