Drama: Two Russian soldiers are taken as prisoners by a man who plans to exchange them for his captured son.
PLOT:
Gilin Vanya (SERGEI BODROV JR.) and Sacha (OLEG MENSHIKOV) are two Russian soldiers captured in an ambush. Taken to a mountain village, they find themselves as hostages of Abdul-Mourant (DJEMAL SIKHARULIDZE), an older man who plans to use the soldiers in a prisoner exchange for his own son who's held by the Russians. The two soldiers must then deal with their captivity and with Abdul's young daughter Dina (SUSANNA MEKHRALIEVA) and her uncle Hassan (ALEXANDER), both of whom care for the prisoners.
WILL KIDS WANT TO SEE IT?
It's doubtful. Subtitled Russian films usually aren't a big draw to most kids.
WHY THE MPAA RATED IT: R
For some violence and language.
CAST AS ROLE MODELS:
SERGEI BODROV JR. and
OLEG MENSHIKOV plays soldiers who are taken as hostages. Their occasionally violent actions relate directly to their attempts at escape.
DJEMAL SIKHARULIDZE plays the father of a captured soldier who is desperate enough to use two enemy soldiers as pawns for a prisoner swap.
Most everyone who doesn't fall into the "art house" crowd will probably pass over this subtitled Russian film, but that's a shame since this is a relatively interesting and intriguing piece of work. Though not fast paced, the film slowly grows on you and leaves a lasting impression long after the theater lights have come up. The performances are very good, especially Bodrov as the young and impressionable soldier/hostage. And the bleak mountain landscape and village are as much characters as are their human counterparts. While the plot isn’t overly original, the characters are fresh enough to make this a film worth seeing. We give it a 7 out of 10.
OUR WORD TO PARENTS:
Violence is the big issue here with several people being killed by gunfire, explosions and in one graphic scene by slitting a throat. Profanity is heavy with 8 "f" words, but they and others are all subtitled, and thus aren’t heard in English. There's one scene where we see many nude soldiers’ bare butts during a physical exam. There's also some drinking and smoking, but nothing too bad other than the two prisoners being somewhat drunk in one scene. Although it's highly unlikely that many people, let alone kids, will want to see this film, we suggest that you read the scene listings to determine if the movie is appropriate for you and your family.
There is full rear male nudity seen as many soldiers have their medical physicals. Others are also seen covering their private parts with their hands.
Sacha tells Vanya that the guards might "cut your balls off" and then asks Vanya if he’s ever had sex ("f-ed someone"). Vanya says yes, and Sacha tells him that at least he got to do it once before they castrate him (which never happens).
Sacha briefly mentions having champagne with a woman and then later having a condom on, but then says that the woman fell asleep.
Sacha asks Hassan for a cigarette but his request is ignored. Later he's occasionally seen smoking, Vanya joins him once, and other soldiers are also seen smoking.
![[Screen It]](/images/underground_header.jpg)
