The film definitely surprised me. It's not mainstream. It's not narrative. It's neither relaxing nor overwhelming. This is a film that cannot and should not be retold. At its core is the eternal battle between good and evil, between darkness and light, between black and white. It is by no means satanic, as some have labeled it without even watching it. But yes, the theme of the devil and God is present, as well as the fine line between religion and faith. Many of the painful topics of modern life are touched upon, many questions are raised, but there are no answers. Each viewer must find them for themselves.
An exceptional display of cinematography by Denis Madden, who has managed to capture not just beautiful shots but also to create an atmosphere that makes this film something absolutely different from anything we've seen so far. Dynamic, vivid, and real. You don't just watch the film-you step into it. You are inside.
The film is not literal. It doesn't serve everything on a plate; it makes you a participant in the action in some way. You want to understand what will happen in the end-will there be victory over darkness? Will light prevail? "The Wheels Of Heaven" vividly shows us that one cannot exist without the other and that you cannot reach absolute light without first passing through absolute darkness. No one is purely good or purely evil. It's all a matter of perspective.
Special attention must be given to the stellar cast, led by Mickey Rourke, who has been my favorite actor since the time of the classic The Wrestler. Alongside Rourke, the international cast includes Gary Stretch and Geoff Bell.
I cannot overlook the Bulgarian actors either-an outstanding performance by Desi Tenekedjieva, Eleonora Ivanova, Dimitar Nikolov, Ovanes Torosyan, and all the other incredibly talented faces who contribute to the film's powerful impact. This is grand cinema. And grand cinema is for connoisseurs, for people ready to reflect on it without forming conclusions in advance.
I don't know why, but this movie somehow reminded me of Stanley Kubrick's cinematic masterpieces, where striking visuals are combined with powerful music that transports you into a completely different space and creates an entirely unique impression. Once again, this is the impact of grand cinema, which is, above all, art. And art is not explained-it searches. Go and experience it.
