Vosmerka

Aglaya and Herman meet in a Russian nightclub and soon dream of running away together. Each of them has significant baggage however. Herman is in a police unit that is more like a band of lightly disciplined goons. At night little changes except for clothes, for he and his former military buddies continue to roam the streets getting in fights just like they do during the day. In Aglaya's case, she happens to be a jealous mob boss' girlfriend. Aglaya and Herman attempt to break loose from their distressing and forlorn situations. The film offers an intriguing glimpse into Russia on the eve of the 21st century, yet it relies too much on action and fight scenes at the expense of depth, the couple's chemistry, cinematography and dialogue. Seen at the 2013 Toronto International Film Festival.