User reviews

Pavel Chukhrai does not belong to any list of "Notable" film directors of Russia,nonetheless he has shown some amount of flair through his meek direction and screenplay in drama"vor" a.k.a."The Thief".

The movie is centered upon three characters- a widowed woman, with her little child who envisages his father every now and then and a charming but rakish officer to whom material gain matters most.Like some other hailed Russian movies it deals with grim picture of reality with no magical finishing touch.It certainly won't make you cheer or applaud but will move you a bit that's for sure.

Both acting and cinematography has been brilliant,Though editing and sound mixing could have been better. Acting of Misha Philipchuk as 6 year old sanya is priceless. Flying colors of European cinemas with highest possible proximity to realness are depicted through the wonderfully done cinematography.

Watch it,it won't cost you much !

I thoroughly enjoyed this film and would recommend it to anyone just for the fantastic expressions of little Sanya's big blue eyes! For those who enjoy high caliber independent and foreign films, this is a piece of gold not to be missed.

What a movie Very well written shot and directed by Pavel Chukhray This 90 min drama is so engaging and what makes it that much engaging is the story,the cinematography, its amazing cast and their strong performances especially the child who played sanya

Truly a well made russian tragic,emotional and beautiful drama that takes place in a Stalin era Russia I strongly reccomend to all the movielovers out there to watch this movie and be touched by it.

Pavel Chukhraj's award winning film THE THIEF is one of those special films that should be owned and revisited - like a favorite novel or poem or symphony. Chukhraj both wrote and directed this tale/fable set in Stalinist Russia, a story which encompasses the impact on a child of loss of a father in the war, the appalling living standards in the communes during the 1950s where multiple families and comrades shared space and survived the lack of privacy, and the extents to which people will go to survive what fate has dealt them and the sad sequelae that follow.

The story opens on the cold steppes of Russia where Katya (Yekaterina Rednikova) gives birth to a son Sanya (Misha Philipchuk) in the mud of a country in disrepair in 1946. Narrated by the adult Sanya we next see Katya and Sanya on board a train where they encounter a handsome soldier Tolyan (Vladimir Mashkov), a seemingly gentle man who immediately bonds with the two 'refugees'. The remainder of the story deals with the fact that Tolyan is a thief and causes disruptive moves of his 'family' as he plunges them deeper into the hole of his crimes. At times he is harsh with Sanja, at time he is protective and instructive as a surrogate father, teaching Sanya the cruel rules of survival. He is finally imprisoned, Katya dies from an infection following an abortion, and Sanya grows into his teen years in orphanages, dreaming of his real father, wondering about Tolyan. They two make a final surprise encounter that leads to the ending of the story.

The actors are exceptional, the supporting cast is particularly fine, and the cinematography and set designs are something beyond description. The eyes of Sanya (those of Misha Philipchuk) will haunt you and beckon return to this most impressive and touching film. Highly recommended. Grady Harp

"Vor" will undoubtedly become a classic of Russian cinema in a few years.

First, this was both written and directed by the great Russian filmmaker Pavel Chukhrai! It's a tender pseudo-autobiographical account of life during the last years in Stalinist USSR. An interesting theme in this movie is that of the "father-figure"...and Stalin as a "father-figure" to the Soviet Union. You don't necessarily have to be familiar with the political context of the film, but it definitely makes it all the more poignant and heart-breaking if you are.

Vladi Mashkov is superb as the charming "soldier" who, not accidentally, has Comrade Stalin tattooed on his chest. Whether Toljian symbolizes a strong-yet-corrupt Stalin and whether Katja and Sasha represent the disenchanted Russian populus, that's up to you to decide. But see it!

Look at "Vor" from the allegorical and political level and it's strikingly true. Look at "Vor" from the emotional and tragic level and it's strikingly true. This movie is deep, painful, and of course riddled with truth. That's why it's so powerful! Of course, the acting and direction show this truth off so vividly. I have to say, once again, that Mashkov proves to be an actor of amazing caliber, expression, and beauty.

Dasvidania ;-)

This is one of the most ambitious films I have ever seen done; it is an extremely painful movie to watch in places, beautifully photographed, with understated direction that does not get in the way of the story.

A lot will be lost on the small screen, but if you enjoy foreign films (or films in general) you will not find a better one than this. If you are in the mood for lighthearted entertainment, do not rent this film; you will feel sad for a long time after it ends. (It is a Russian story, after all.) Images from the film are guaranteed to haunt for a long time; it reminds the viewer of the power film can have to affect an audience.

Nine stars for me.

A post war tale of World War II, a woman and her fatherless son get acquainted and affectionate to a soldier, who in turns out to be an imposter. Perhaps the second best Russian language film I've watched after "Kolya," it gives a compassionate and observant account of emotions seen through a child and his mother. It's cold and poignant yet human and witty in its depiction of emotions, which is beautifully filmed and masterly acted taking the story to various cities, citing an epitome to nomadic life imparted by the agonies of war. Not as buyest to "Life Is Beautiful," it still mesmerizes through its impeccable performances and a superb depiction of emotions.

Rating: 3 stars out of 4

This film takes place in an environment seldom depicted in movies: The Soviet Union during post-war stalinism. And I am so happy that this is made by russians!! This in itself renders it an epic value, but it has dramatic qualities as well. It is very emotional (it might make you cry) as well as extremely funny (it might make you laugh). Finally, it might also be seen as a poem about mother russia that was abused, the people that were betrayed, and the betrayer (stalinism).

I finally saw this movie, and I am glad that I did. The storyline has been described by many already, so I won't go into it. It held my attention from beginning to end. I loved the landscapes of the old USSR. The life depicted in this movie seems very realistic, and the acting is SUPERB by all three main characters- Sania, Katia, and Tolian. They are very natural, not acting at all. The suffering is heart wrenching and seems almost unavoidable. What would a single mother do to raise her son in the 1950's in Stalinist USSR? She takes the opportunity, regrets it after a while but cannot really break through. Ekaterina displays the mixed emotions beautifully without going over the top. Same with Vladimir who plays the soldier aka Thief. However, the most amazing performance is given by Misha, the little boy who plays little Sania, for 90% of the movie. His piercing blue eyes, his happy smile and his tears stole my heart.

A must see if you want to see a movie that touches your soul.

Though the title of the film is "The Thief", in reality, this is not at all the story of one. It's a story of a helpless woman and his newborn son, it's a story about a son who has never seen his father but always wanted to feel the warmth of a father's guidance, it is also a story about a person who is quite habituated to playing with people's trust, does it makes him a bad person? this film poses this question towards its audience but did not answer it. A beautiful story about human emotions and its soul. All the performances are life-like, especially the child actor is the main heart of the film. well directed and photographed as well.

A woman, who is traveling with her young son in search of a better life, meets a soldier on a train and has a sexual encounter with him. Afterward, they move in together, and she thinks she has found security and love. It doesn't take long, though, for the soldier to start showing a darker side. First, he becomes harsh in his treatment of the boy, and then unleashes his volatile personality on her.

Eventually, the woman must make a decision: does she stay with this stranger, although she knows he is corrupting her child and challenging her authority, or does she leave him and return to the uncertainties she was facing when she met him?

This film, a multi-layered portrayal of victimization, effectively illustrates how harsh reality can be, and how fragile our dreams. It's not for everyone. It contains sexuality which lacks sensitivity. It contains graphic nudity. But, it depicts life as some unfortunate people know it, and depicts it well indeed. I rated it 9/10.

By the way, Misha Philipchuk, who portrays the little boy, is a fantastic actor. As the movie tagline claims, he will indeed steal your heart.

The Thief is narrated by a man looking back at his childhood in a post-WWII Soviet society, but while the narration might be that of an adult's, Chukhrai makes the perspective of the camera distinctly childlike. The protagonist, Sanja, never gets to see the full view of the world; Chukhrai cuts people off before the viewer (and by assumption, this is what Sanja sees) can do a full once-over, and inside shots rarely lift to reveal the ceiling or tops of windows. The physical landscape begins to take cues from the camera and Sanja's surroundings become increasingly claustrophobic. Eventually the "family" is living in a basement communal apartment, with only a stunted view of the world; the scene in which the boy stares longingly out the dwarfed window is reminiscent of Abram Room's Bed and Sofa. So similar is this technique, in fact, that it produces a similar effect: Sanja and his mother, are having their freedom restricted by Toljan and they are trapped. Chukhrai takes advantage of long shots when he has them, and slowly pans to reveal Sanja's mother giving birth, a dream sequence in which Sanja sees his father, or the empty winter landscape. These scenes disrupt the child's-perspective and the flittering camera cuts that work to keep up with the action and add a hazy, dreamlike quality to the film. Of particular note is the acting of Misha Philipchuk. While it's easy to extend a fair amount of grace and not expect a stunning performance from child actors, Philipchuk is mesmerizing as Sanja. The acting overall is very solidly done, and the other aspects of the film (cinematography, innovative perspective of camera, script) are all done with noticeable skill.

This was the first Russian movie I was able to view and, I have to admit, I was impressed. It was one of the best movies I have ever seen.

Mikhail Filipchuk as 6-year-old "Sanya" gave a heart warming performance as a boy who lost his father to a war when his mother was only three months pregnant with him. Getting to know his new step-father and gaining his acceptance wasn't an easy task for him. Especially after his step-father is given 7 years in prison for his thievery.

In the end, 12-year-old "Sanya", played by Dmitri Chigaryov, is in an orphanage after his mother's death. The movie takes a strange twist...and...in the end...."Sanya" gets his justice.

Very enjoyable, indeed.

I really really liked this movie. It is not your ordinary movie which you can almost guess what will happen next. This one has all the twists that you will be surprised that it did not show you the way that you expected to see!

The little child actor is absolutely excellent! He is the best boy actor that I have ever seen on the screen. His eyes can almost speak. And he is naive and innocent. You can feel that he is really the character, but not acting.

I especially liked the re-run of him running after the prison vehicle at the end of the movie. It touched my heart the first time, it connected me with the film at the second time.

Even though it is in Russian, but you don't feel the difference of language barrier. Those two main characters are excellent as well. The story does not have a moral to tell, but it catches your heart with all the unexpected changes.

it is definitely one of the best movie!

First saw this movie in its first screening, and being just a kid, I cried with all my heart. 17 years later I managed to remember the title, rediscover the the movie and watch it again. To be honest, I actually had to open an IMDb account just to give this movie 10 stars. The acting is just superb. The story is truly heartbreaking but manages to radiate the little boys tenderness in a way you will never forget. The parallels are endless. The scene where the little boy follows the prison truck will always remain in my heart. Just watching this masterpiece changed me forever and I think that only a Russian director and cast could create such a masterpiece. Only people who lived the Stalin era would have the dare to give us such a story. If you have to see one film this year, well.... this is it.

After years and years of Russian films, I am used to expect stories deeper and richer than this. The wonderful interpretation shown by the child actor can't erase the poverty of the film as a whole. The film is the story of a six-year-old child, who's never seen his dead-in-war father, so that the only paternal images he has got are fleeting glimpses, courtesy of his childish fantasy. Looks like the child is the representation of the Russian people, wishing for a change to come and having to face the reality that the realization of your wishes not always results in the concrete the way you expected. The thief enters the child's life abruptly, treating him rudely, teaching him how to live by the muscle and showing interest only in the private parts (how right...) of the mother and in the valuables of the homes giving them hospitality in between their non-stop escaping from town to town, from train to train, from one burglary to the next one. The child is a masterwork of tenderness and shows a great acting capability, expressive in a way that Di Caprio shall never be able to equal in 40 more years of movie appearances. Along the way, though fascinated he shall never find a way neither to trust nor to comprehend that strange chap, so intrusive in his so far perfect mother-child relationship (mother herself is a psychiatric case for her loving a man, who's rather rough both to her and her child and who's not actually an example the kid should be shown), but shall surprise his own self (or maybe it was the underlying wish to see his mother smiling again) by calling him 'dad', while chasing the jeep carrying the thief ('twas time) and his peers to jail. Because of this betrayal, visions of his "real" father shall abruptly come to an end, mother shall die in a few days and his life shall continue in an orphanotrophy. The meeting with the thief years later shall take the now grown-up boy to the extreme consequences, using the gun that the thief had left him against the outlaw himself, who had shown a very short memory of the teen's mother and teased him about it.

Stalin would have been quite ashamed of the commitment and virtual loyalty of his subjects if he had seen this movie. Unmistakably Russian, "The Thief" is one of the best movies of 1997. Set in the trains and various cities of the former Soviet Union, and almost enchanting through the immaculate acting of little Semya (Misha Philipchuk) this beautiful movie is worth every dime. And the moral? "Never trust a stranger, but nevertheless, if you find a father, don't let him go".

This is one of my favorite films. Every time I see it, it touches me deeply and I can't get it out of my mind for a day or two. It helps me put my life into perspective and revisit the basic assumptions by which I live. Since the plot has been summarized by many other reviewers, I'll just share my own perception of the film.

While there is an important political and historic component to it, the movie is, in my opinion, about relationships: love and fatherhood. Despite the sadness, the story is inspiring in a way, as it reminds the viewer of the power (in this case - destructive) of the true love. It would make you cherish the love that you are lucky to have, or will make you want to seek one.

The film also shows the role that a father plays in a boy's life, in becoming a man, and the faithfulness and commitment that are the platform of such relationship. Again, the tragedy of the fake, non-committed fatherhood helps put things into perspective for the rest of us.

I disagree with other reviewers that seem to think that this is a film primarily about Stalinist Russia. When you see a story that introduces you to a new, unfamiliar environment, you tend to pay attention more to the environment than to the story. If "Romeo and Juliette" was filmed on Mars, you'd keep staring at the Martian landscapes instead of the actors. Keep in mind that this movie was intended primarily for consumption by Russians, who are generally aware of how their country looked back then. By focusing purely on the landscape (toasts to Stalin, communal apartments, ruined post-war country) you'll miss the play.

My summary isn't meant as criticism--it's just what you'll see when you watch this film. It is well made and I admired some of the acting-- such as the nice performance the director got out of a little boy. But the film is such a downer I cannot imagine it having any widespread audience.

The film begins in the Soviet Union just after WWII. A woman collapses and give birth along a muddy road. The scene then skips ahead six years. The widow mother and her boy are on a train--- heading nowhere in particular. On the train, she meets a dashing soldier and he sweeps her off her feet. Next they're moving into a crummy apartment and soon she realizes that he is NOT a soldier but a sociopath who steals without remorse. But the mother is a strongly dependent personality and she refuses to leave the bum and the trio travel across the country stealing and living irresponsible lives. What's next? See the film...just understand it won't get any prettier!

I admire the film for being daring and different. I would assume such a picture never would have been made in the old Soviet Union and the film is clear indication of changing times and attitudes. Worth seeing if you love international films, my only complaints about the film are that it don't think it was so good that it should have been Oscar- nominated plus it was SUPPOSED to be told from the child's viewpoint--yet several scenes occurred where the child was not present--so HOW could the kid have known what happened? Decent, unpleasant and unique.

If you are looking for a good Friday movie to fill your time this is not what you would want to see. This movie is difficult, if you know what I mean. This movie does not have a specific moral which it tries to bring to the viewer's attention; however this movie is very very touching and this is coming from a guy who has seen hundreds of "touching" movies.

The actors are great, and they give a perfect illusion that you are watching a life story not a movie.

This movie makes you think, think about a lot of different things in life. I would not say it is an easy movie to watch; however this is probably the best "sad" movie I have ever seen in my life.

If you are looking for a good drama this is definitely a movie to see, however if you are a fan of Hollywood blockbusters I suggest you stay away.

(1997) The Thief/ Vor (In Russian with English subtitles) DRAMA

A young precautious young boy, Sanya narrates his life while living in a part of war torn Russia involving his husband-less mother, Katya (Ekaterina Rednikova) hooking up with a thief Tolyan (Vladimir Mashkov) while in a train. As a result of falling for him, she tries to manipulate her son he is the father he never had. The more she falls for him, the more her son idolizes him for who is, even though he's a rotten person who exploits peoples generosity by stealing from them. Semantically, professional film critic Roger Ebert sees the correlationation between the young boy and Stalin, others such as myself sees this as another repressive Russian film in terms of it's impact after Stalin's war. The film was nominated for an Oscar for 'Best Foreign film"!

For those of us who are interested in Russian life and film this is a must see. It provides an inside view of life in Stalinist Russia where people are forced to live in communal apartments and struggle to survive. A single mother with a young son becomes enamoured of a man she believes to be a soldier. He turns out to be a burglar preying on the unfortunate. The story is told by the son who first hates, then loves, then hates the thief. Amazingly, the viewer experiences the same shifting emotions. This is a film that will involve you and really play on your emotions. It's as though Dostoyevsky wrote the screenplay. No stereotypes or two-dimensional characters here but complex individuals who will draw you into their fear and pain. It is an unforgettable film; well worth seeking out!

I can't say that I'm a big fan of Russian movies, but there are some that I really do love - this is one of them. The fact why I do love these "some" movies is this "russian-only" bitterness and rough reality that these movies contain. I really did like all the characters in the "Vor" - each one of them represented some angle of human nature - trust and dependence as opposites to hate and insensibility - qualities that we all do have, but somehow manage to pretend that we don't. Also this movie has a really sentimental atmosphere, that makes you think about different things in your life and maybe even rearrange your system of values. As for me - I thought about love and the fact that love doesn't arise from our actions or qualities...and so it does not vanish according to them. There is such love that is between man and a woman as well as between a child and his parent - love that just IS, love that is beautiful in it's unconditionality. I really do recommend this movie to everyone who thinks that he/she can appreciate quality entertainment.