ppomorski

I saw an exceptional film in 2017 - Directions/Posoki, an ensemble drama from Bulgaria, presenting Sofia at night as seen by its taxi drivers, complete with tawdry display windows, ubiquitous pawn shops, children descending into prostitution and pensioners living in abject poverty. Just for the record, it's a laugh-out-loud comedy, and most amazing of all, five of the six presented stories are based on real events, while the final one is an adaptation of a work by Anton Chekhov.

Bulgaria, as portrayed in Directions, is a land which remains optimistic against all odds, for all the pessimists and realists have left long ago. A land where there are only two directions to take: Sofia Airport Terminal 1 or Sofia Airport Terminal 2. A land which has been left behind by God, along with one-third of the population.

The director, Stephen Komandarev, came to the screening I attended in Luxembourg, and was just as talkative as in 2014 when he presented his previous film, The Judgement, at the Warsaw Film Festival. I asked him whether he had been influenced by either Night on Earth by Jim Jarmusch or Taxi by Jafar Panahi, and he said that his main influence was rather Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia, as well as various works by the Dardenne brothers. A very good influence to have, if you ask me...

This film is a fantastic work of art. Go see it.

'Brat' is a 1997 drama that made Sergei Bodrov a superstar and, following his tragic death shortly thereafter, a legend of Russian cinema. I remember my elder brother telling me to give it a try sometime around 2000, but it took me a further 15 years to get round to doing that.

'Brat' has so much to offer in its 100 minutes of running time that it leaves a viewer breathless. An incredible portrayal of a Russia that is no more, excellent acting, a few rare moments of very dark (and very funny) Russian humour, fascinating drab landscapes of late-1990s Saint Petersburg, some of the best use of music I've ever seen in any film and a perfect ending. And lots, lots to think about once the closing credits start rolling.

It's like a Russian response to 'The Godfather', made with a budget of $10,000. What an unforgettable film. Go see it if you have a chance, and don't wait for 15 years...