Category Archives: Aleksey Balabanov

Historical baggage: “Cargo 200” [2007, Russia]

The allegorical Soviet drama “Gruz 200” [Eng. Title: Cargo 200] is one of Aleksey Balabanov’s most important and uninhibited films to date. It is also lesser known than his highly acclaimed “Brother” duology for the very same reason – … Continue reading

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Everything can be justified in war – “Voyna” [2002 Russia]

Aleksey Balabanov looks at the Chechen conflict through the eyes of a liberal-but-nationalistic Russian in his war-time drama, “Voyna” [Eng. Title: War]. But I somehow also get the feeling that he’s mocking us Brits in the process.
The film pulls … Continue reading

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A pilgrimage of the damned – “Ya tozhe khochu” [2012 Russia]

Two famous films came to mind watching Aleksey Balabanov’s adventure drama, “Ya tozhe khochu” [Eng. Title: Me Too] – Andrei Tarkovsky’s Stalker, and Alejandro Jadorowsky’s Fando & Lis, even if the style and visuals are closer to the former.
Storyline:
During … Continue reading

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