Cargo 200

Out of so many garbage russian cinema titles we saw the past two decades, this one is not trash and is outstanding. Not just because of a shock value, but the true-like depiction of Soviet Union in 1980s, good script and ok actors. Hell, this movie captivated me to the end. It's worth it.

After watching the film to the end, i launched myself off the chair, toward the television and returned to the beginning - so i could reassure myself that the word 'based on true events' had been written there. He (Alexey balbanov) may have been messing with us or not, but then the complete repulsiveness and disbelief at the fact that human beings are capable of such things, was the most riveting thing. The film and characters deliver a slice of outright realism, social decay, dark and twisted tales i have ever seen. And nowadays in times unsurprising storytelling, this film shocked the hell out of me. It wasn't the disgust of Captain Zhurov nor the helplessness of Angelika (my name-sake) that irritated me, but the sheer intertwining and coincidence that could be experienced in the film. Everyone crossed everyone else's path. This, like others have said, is a very very dark, sick, twisted movie... in a good way. That it keeps you interested and intrigued. I loved it, only with an open mind.

I don't know if anyone noticed that most critical, "one star" reviews emphasize the movie's agenda rather than anything else: the primary object of their critique is not a play by the individual actors, extreme violence or disgusting scenes but director's attitude toward Soviet reality. An they are right. Every small detail in the movie is intended to show that it was indeed rotten and decaying society. The year 1984 was chosen not by the accident: it is the answer to Orwell' book "1984" where British author tried to predict how the communist society would look in 25 years. Balabanov's answer: it is worse than Orwell could even imagine. The letters "USSR" on the T-shirt are not accidental either. This is another Balabanov's answer, this time to the official Soviet literature which presented young people (komsomol)as heroes, ready to sacrifice themselves in defense of their mother-Russia or save little babies from the fire. This real "businessman-komsomolets", who was educated by the Soviet reality, who saw how Soviet officials meet fallen soldiers from Afghanistan, won't do anything like that. Indeed, the movie wants to say that such pervert like captain Zhurov could live anywhere, in any country. However, he could thrive only in USSR, in the country which lost its soul. Great movie.

Yes, this is a shocking movie but a good one. People, especially abroad, need to see films like this, to get a picture of the horrors that took place in the SSSR and try understand the dark side of the human nature. Similar things, if not worse, are happening all over the place but at least Alexey Balabanov had the guts to talk about it in an explicit and honest manner. I, personally, think of this film as a very disturbing documentary which can also provide study material for sociologists, psychologists, psychiatrists but also people in positions of power (politicians mainly) who are mostly responsible for horrors of the modern society. Also, movies aren't just Hollywood and why not talk about real life for a change. It's time people opened up their eyes and their minds, too. I did find the music, although highly acclaimed by the critics and well liked by its fans, a little irritating. I do however understand its role in the movie so that's why I voted 9. Well done the actors, and well done Mr Balabanov!

This is a brilliant if dark movie. Showing corruption of the Soviet system in stark and horrific colors and the high price it put on the human soul, this cynical piece of movie making is based on a true story. And it rings true. More horrific than most horror movies, it is well worth a watch. It may scar you, so beware. But it is one hell of a great movie.