User reviews

Oleg's life as an emergency medical technician is fraught with trouble and tribulation; hostility to treatments, toxic complaining, serious threats and pointless, relentless stress. Such concerns merely involve Oleg's boss. Patients are trouble too. They include violent drunks, hypochondriacs, religious freaks who refuse treatment and more. Clueless administrators add counterproductive procedures, the menace of layoffs, humiliating assignments and the focus on profits over people. On top of this, Oleg tortures himself with serious bouts of drinking and depression. Of course, nothing in life is more important than your lover. Katya, Oleg's wife, is demanding a divorce for both real and imagined slights. It is hard to tell when Oleg is in or out of the ambulance. He faces key decisions about what or who is most important to him.

Arrhythmia provides a captivating glimpse into the ups and downs of being a Russian EMT. Hand-held cameras further emphasize the erratic nature of this work, and Oleg's relationships and inner turmoil. Scene settings are mostly inside the city, yet on at least one occasion a beautiful birch forest becomes the background. The actors are capable and believable. Arrhythmia is well organized and riveting. Seen at the Toronto International Film Festival.

The beautiful film 'Arrhythmia' made in 2017 by Boris Khlebnikov reminded me of a brand of Russian (Soviet in fact) cinema that I had kind of forgotten and which I really liked in the late '70s and early '80s. Those movies were bringing to screens simple and moving stories from the lives of ordinary people, the inhabitants of the Soviet empire of that time. they were telling such human and emotional stories and presenting without any propaganda ornaments the reality of the last decades of communism in the country that was trying to impose it on the world and especially on the Eastern Europe. Of course, there were limits, there were never any direct criticisms of the communist regime, but even apolitical approaches were a stance in those years. 'Arrhytimia' similarly manages to bring to screen a sample of today's Russian reality with its people, conflicts and problems. The quality of acting and film production is no lesser than of the best such films I can remember from 40 years ago.

Oleg and Katia are a young couple from a provincial town in Russia today who are living an uneasy marriage. At the origin may be the difference in education and social position between the two, who both work in the emergency teams of the health system. Katia is a surgeon. Oleg is just a paramedic, works on ambulances, provides first aid, saves lives. The film follows him especially, and the intervention scenes of his team captivated me, although I'm not a big fan of movies or series with medical themes. Oleg is one of those paramedics that anyone wants in the difficult times when calling the emergency services - dedicated, competent, humane, brave, takes responsibility for his actions, refuses compromise and fights bureaucratic complications. However, this total involvement in the profession has a negative impact on the rest of his personality and private life - Oleg drinks excessively and does not have the time, power or maybe even the emotional intelligence to express his feelings towards Katia and not let the work on ambulance and hospitals take over their lives. Their marriage is in danger of falling apart. Katia shows a lot of love and understanding, but for how long?

The film could have easily slipped into easy melodrama or medical techno-drama, but it doesn't, because the script is written with intelligence and sensitivity (with the exception maybe of the ending which disappointed me). The acting interpretations of the two main protagonists are exceptional: Aleksandr Yatsenko and Irina Gorbacheva perform two beautiful roles, authentic and profound psychologically. It's hard not to resonate, even to fall in love with them watching this movie. But the other characters are also remarkable, from Oleg's ambulance colleague and the chief sent from Moscow to implement the new working rules of the ministry, to the small roles of the people met during the various emergency interventions. Following them we get the impression that we are acquainted with an entire sector of contemporary Russian society and especially with its people. 'Arrhythmia' is both a beautiful love story that takes place in the context of a troubled marriage, and an excellent open door to the human universe of today's Russia. Highly recommended.

Maybe, because, like many Estern Europeans, I see the Russian films as inspired translations of reality in the image on screen. Maybe because the Russian realities are familiar for entire East Europe. Because this film is a realistic portrait of near reality, from the burocratic system against care for the other, from the fight for save the life of patients against almost empty or chaotic personal life. Story of a paramedic iin war against him, the film gives not an expected message or a precise lesson but it represents an useful and touching confession about people, love and the impossibility to be the other. A profound touching film. About naked reality and its people.

Although I am British I have lived and worked in Russia many years and truly appreciate how accurate this film is, and unlike many rather soulful depressing movies that Russia often produces this is a warm, touching drama with wonderful nuanced performances by fine actors.

The two stars, Irina Gorbachova (absolutely radiant) and Aleksandr Yatsenko (such a superb actor) are perfect as are the rest of the cast (I loved Nikolay Shrayber as a slightly resigned but cheerful companion).

It also gives an insight into the life of an Ambulance Doctor... itself very interesting.

Recommended!

Failed results? What have you guys watched? I felt that every minute of this film was carefully planned and cleverly done. original, natural acting, a magnificent piece of work. Feelings, passions, beautifully expressed. This movie is a Masterpiece by all accounts!

The acting is great and the story is believable. Like so many Russian films true to life. You should watch it if you like to see truism.

The director is trying to create minimalist film. I can't help but compare it to Zvyagintsev's films. Unlike "Loveless" or "Elena" Arrhythmia was not executed well. In the beginning it seems like Katya has an issue with Oleg being an alcoholic, but the subject is never touched between them. So the issue of their relationship was not open. The way they solved their issue was also not open. Oleg's feelings and behavior were somehow understandable and believable. Why Katya decided to stay with him is a big question mark. The only nice minimalist moment that director captured perfectly giving you a full picture of their past was when Katya was dancing to "puberty" song. I could really feel that they met and fell in love in college and feelings they had for each other then. I even imagined their teenage years. It was really nicely and softly done. Lots of unnecessary scenes at work. It's like I watched 2 unfinished films, one about relationship, another about ambulance work. And 2 were not connected.

It is really difficult to create/discern an interesting microcosmos, nuanced, touching and realistic characters and an intensive story. But this movie does all this.

So this is my first time to see a Russian movie that is all made and speaking in Russian although I have being lived in Russia a couple years now and today I decided to watch this movie and here comes the shock it was so fu**ing real every thing from the environment & relationships & the wards of talking even the way of talking you will only get that if you speak in Russian in addition to the acting it is incredible for one moment i thought it is not a movie it is just a reality tv show but this is more realistic even , the writing was good too just a small story with few characters few solid messages without something shining without showing off even the reactions when bad things happened was realistic and convenient . I absolutely recommend it and have a good realistic time with love form Russia .

The main character is a self-obsessed maniac who tortures his wife on a regular basis while saving other people lives. He is depressed at times (surprise!) because of these mutually exclusive qualities.

Sure, it's not director's fault. The director's fault is that he doesn't have a message regarding this. And he hasn't put on the table anything that would excuse him for failing to explain his point of view, like long shots of beautiful nature, strange camera angles, revealing philosophical thoughts, etc. There are some scenes of nudity though to compesate that )) And even a shamefully short intercourse )) But overall it's a bleak and poorly executed production.

One of the best movies I've seen in a a while . I liked the characters a lot, couldn't take my eyes of the screen . Don't miss this movie . A+

"Arrhythmia" is something very personal. It's as if someone not just looked into your bedroom, but looked at your whole life. With all the consequences that follow from this. He would have looked at your small and big stupidities that you committed in your 15-18-30 ... saw how truly you are able to love despite all the glamorous trends and circumstances - in a tiny kitchen, when suddenly, under you, a harsh sharpened knife or in the toilet of a cinema, where shabby aunts over 40+ go, not sleeping a day, but inspired by the company of friends and memories.

Whatever songs we loved in childhood, the cruel truth of life is that we all have our own: "Yalta is August - and we are in love with you." Honestly, sincerely, selflessly and hopefully. Focused on the fact that even if the galaxy we have chosen is moving in an unclear direction at all and we cannot keep up with it, a miracle will suddenly happen, everything will somehow get better by itself and we will catch up with it and live happily ever after.

We will drink ourselves into semi-insensibility, quarrel, break up for life, and after minutes or hours we will reunite again in order to declare the main idea of the message introduced into the film - among all this, reproduced and planted by the modern realities of human hell - everything in the world wins love.

A childishly touching story that knows no malicious intent and gives hope for immortality that money, positions, careers, regalia are just splashes compared to a living and all-encompassing substance - us, ordinary people who live, make love and try to make the world a little kinder and more reliable, in which we ourselves have been disappointed for so long.

I was planning to watch this movie, but thanks to EnoVarma's review, I won't have to. He reveals the ending in his last sentence. Do yourself a favor and don't read his review.

The story is true in many societies ... A man under pressure by work, procedures, people etc. Even his wife starts to reject him ... But he sticks to the right path of being honest and just ... Great !

There are few movies that I have seen and recommended to every other movie buff. This is one of them.

The movie is realistic and has a simple plot but acting is just amazing. It might seem that you are watching a couple with strained relationships and at times find yourself in dilemma of being biased to one or the other.

Irina Gorbacheva was really good and so Aleksandr.

Although such a realistic plot in a drama, the director Boris Khlebnikov made sure that you never feel bored and left out. On the contrary, I for once, missed the movie when it ended. I was hoping that there would be a bit more.

In all, a beautiful movie if you like drama...