Rossiya 88

Rossiya 88 (2009)

Genres - Drama  |   Run Time - 104 min.  |   Countries - Russia  |   MPAA Rating - NR
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Synopsis by Mark Deming

The rise of the neo-Nazi movement in Russia provides the backdrop for this mock-documentary drama from director Pavel Bardin. Abraham (Mikhail Polyakov) is a disaffected Russian teenager who has joined a gang of skinheads led by Blade (Petr Fedorov), who has known Abraham since they were kids (and tolerates the fact Abraham is half-Jewish). As Blade and his cohorts wander through Moscow causing trouble and starting fights, Abraham captures the action with his video camera (which provides the point of view for the film). All is good nasty fun for Blade's gang until he makes a disturbing discovery -- his sister (Vera Strokova) has fallen in love with an Asian (Kazbek Kibizov), and Blade insists on putting a stop to the relationship, with grim results. Rossiya 88 (aka Russia 88) is also intercut with authentic interviews with ordinary Russian citizens who share their views on the neo-Nazi movement in their country; the film was an official selection at the 2009 Berlin International Film Festival.