Eastern Promises (2007)

Eastern Promises 2007



Details:
Runtime: 100 min / Canada: 96 min (Toronto International Film Festival)
Country: UK / Canada / USA
Language: English / Russian

Overview:
Director: David Cronenberg
Writer: Steven Knight (screenplay)
Release Date: 21 September 2007 (USA) more
Genre: Crime / Drama / Thriller more
Tagline: Every sin leaves a mark.

Cast:
Josef Altin ... Ekrem
Mina E. Mina ... Azim
Aleksandar Mikic ... Soyka
Sarah-Jeanne Labrosse ... Tatiana
Naomi Watts ... Anna
Raza Jaffrey ... Doctor Aziz
Viggo Mortensen ... Nikolai
Vincent Cassel ... Kirill
Armin Mueller-Stahl ... Semyon

Synopsis:
Anna Khitrova (Naomi Watts), a midwife at a London hospital, finds a Russian-language diary on the body of a Tatiana, a fourteen-year-old girl who dies in childbirth. She also finds a card for the Trans-Siberian restaurant, which is owned by Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl), a boss in the Russian Mafia or vory v zakone ("thieves in law"). Anna thus sets out to track down the girl's family so that she can find a home for the dead mother's baby girl. Annas mother Helen (Sinéad Cusack) does not discourage her, but Annas Russian-born uncle Stepan (Jerzy Skolimowski), whom Anna asks for help with translation of the diary, urges caution. Through Semyon and her uncle, Anna comes to learn that Semyon and his unstable son, Kirill (Vincent Cassel), had abused, forced into prostitution, and raped the girl.

Semyon's driver is the Russian-born Nikolai Luzhin (Viggo Mortensen), who serves as the family's driver and "cleaner", dumping dead bodies in the River Thames. As Nikolai's star rises within the vory, Semyon sponsors him as a full member, due in part to Nikolai's protection of Semyon's bumbling son who authorizes a hit on a rival Chechen vory leader. The hit was not approved by Semyon and was ill-advised with the Chechen gang now coming to London to seek vengeance. Semyon, impressed by Nikolai's knowledge of the criminal underworld and tolerance and protection of his son, hatches a plan to trick Nikolai, now a full member of the vory, so that Nikolai would temporarily take Kirill's place during the meeting with the Chechens at the baths. As Chechens attack Nikolai thinking he was Kirill, Nikolai is able to kill them both, ending up in the hospital with severe wounds as the result.

It is revealed near the end of the film that Nikolai is actually a Scotland Yard informer on the mob. As part of his undercover duties, Nikolai was able to read Anna's diary before Semyon had it destroyed and hatched a plan so that Semyon would go down for Tatiana's rape, making Nikolai the most powerful member of the London branch of the mob (more powerful than the unstable Kirill, who is thought to be a homosexual by the homophobic mobsters of the film). The plan works, with Anna eventually raising the baby and Nikolai becoming the crime boss.

That is an amazing review you posted Vig!
Thanks for that!
I saw the movie,it is amazing too!
Anyone else saw it?

Meeeeeeeeeee

You too?
Oh good,what do you think about it?

Very very good film but I must writte, I need czech subtitles to understand all words
I think, every Viggo fans will enjoy this

Yep,I jneed subtiles too,for I can not hear everything!
I speak a bit russian so it wasn't so hard,but I will watch it again as soon as I get subs!!

I must wait for the film to come here in German cinema, but I cannot wait much more time I think. I did hear so much about the film and everybody sais it is really good, so I want to see it too.

Yes,you can not miss it!
It is really good!
when will it come to Germany?

Well,maybe it will be!
Ah it is bad when a movie is not released on DVD in some coutries!

I dont know very surely about when the film comes to the cinemas here, but I read somewhere it will be around the time of Christmass. That is very long to wait.

Oh well,a gift for Chritsmas!!!!!!!

EASTERN PROMISES official web page.

Aw,thanks Luci!
It is so nice1
Now I am going to spend a bit time there!

Yes thanks for that, Luci. Interesting site even if I did feel just a tad too intimaite with VM's body.

it is really nice there!Really!!!!!!

Oh that is really cool!
Thanjd again,Luci!
It does worth to take a looooong look there!

For any French reasers a nice 4-page article on Viggo and his career at this link:

http://www.dvdrama.com/news-23040-portrait-viggo-mortensen-artiste-integre.php

Translation to the article,that Kal has posted a link to!

Hobbits waits for Gandalf in the village of Bree, in the inn of the dressing Pony. In a dark corner, a prowler oberve, look lit one instant by the home of its pipe. When the ring falls again on the finger of Frodo, it is going to lend assistance to the passengers and reveals the face for the first time. So Aragorn in The Lord of rings appeared: The Community of the ring of Peter Jackson, first shutter of its fundamental trilogy adapted by the work of Tolkien, under the noblemen traits of Viggo Mortensen. The actor was of those that they knew, that they had seen in second roles, in important films (the Dead end of Brian de Palma, The Indian Runner de Sean Penn) or not (In equal weapon, Slaughter in the chain saw 3). It was a familiar face which they upset to there to identify, as a vague knowledge. With this role, it established himself as an icon of the contemporary, emblematic cinema of an ambitious, unpublished, audacious work, at the height of a huge figure.

Mortensen, they could believe it, knows a late recognition. He has about 50 years and became a star here is only some years. However, the man is atypical as his career. Outstanding photographer and poet acknowledged, he reminds a bit of somebody as of Sam Shepard (big writer and dramatist). He is more than a simple actor, his carrièren ' is not its reason to live and he is in a complete artistic search. So they cannot judge it only in the finally reductionist aune of his filmography. Because what it brings in Aragorn or in Cronenberg, it is its deep feelings, this private understanding, this manner of putting on completely in the service of the work in which he participates. They discover besides in what they can see filming that the man is available, calm and that it is really a positive force in work being made, without its ego putting on from side to side.
It therefore took time to be in the good place and at good instant, in spite of at least two fulgurances. The Indian runner of Sean Penn was the first one. As all films of the big film-maker, work is except beaten tracks, unforeseen and notable, they keep it with one for a moment, it acts on you as something that you do not understand right away, this registers in you as a fixed idea. It films tormented heroes, in crumbs and in break with the society.Two actors represent this with force and fever in its world: Jack Nicholson and Viggo Mortensen. In The Indian runner, it represents a man broken by the Vietnam, which does not manage to return to the society. They attend his desperate escape, its uncontrollable misery which falls again continuously on the shoulders of his brother. The figure is moving because he vibrates of the almost disturbing truth. Because it resembles these lost, condemned people, whom we all crossed without having known what make or what say to keep them, prevent them from running to their decline. It is not about curse, about Christ's pose, about anybody who would suffer for the sins of others but more than a so deep malaise as he became irreversible, incurable. Escape and dead end, inexorable exit stays only, which, even if it is foreseeable, remains there not less harrowing. Mortensen makes exist this figure, recalls these mislaid men, awakens the memories of these souls lost with one intense, impressive force of genuineness. It personifies the misery of a being stalked by his demons, thrown into confusion. Perhaps that his name was not obvious with this film, but his figure stays, indelible, vibrating of all his hopeless rage. A very big role in a very big film.

It represents a nice bit part in the leader of work of Brian de Palma L' Impasse (sharing the poster once again with Sean Penn, but as actor this time). This film, before being bandit's film, before being almost the negative extension of Scarface, is a major work on the redemption. Each is a presentation.Pacino is the repentant. Sean Penn is the corrupt. Mortensen, in a more secondary role registers perfectly in these themes: it is the pitiable, gnawed physically by its disfavour. It one is taken back of in the past magnificent and charismatic justice which accepts without glory and while he is in wheelchair to carry a stool pigeon to make plunge Carlito Brigante and benefit from a delivery of trouble once again.Mortensen represented without any kindness this pathetic failure, with even more enough pride to be base and who is not more than a moaner who snivels on his past splendour. Another role hard, ungrateful and little made to be obvious, but that it serves with a nice firm belief. It never searches besides empathy and twinkle, they smell it in the middle of the figure, very close to what he feels, adopting his voice, his poses, his gestures.

In the course of the nineties, it does not meet films which emphasize his talent, exploiting only its nice face and its physical presence but without paying tribute to its integrity. Sometimes however, an instant of favour, as in this small nice film, The choice of a life, where it represents a hippy which is going to introduce to a nice housewife (Diana Lane) the beauty of a free love outside the festival of Woodstock.It also appears in the financial year of style Psycho de Gus Van Sant. But once again, even if every time it serves its role honestly, it does not have opportunity to fan out.

At the beginning of 2000s, Peter Jackson was going to accomplish his ultimate fantasy of film-maker: accomplish a trilogy adapted by the leader of work The Lord of the rings of J.R.R Tolkien. First rejected by all Hollywood studios (with the judiciousness which they know them), cooled down by the enormity mégalomaniaque by plan, it finds rather mad people finally to follow it at New Line. It who had had to pull it down and resolve to make only a film, and then it had the right, the fellow, of there turn three, but at the same time. A completely mad plan took shape then, they told themselves however with a fevered incredulity that this time, this was finally going to be able to be made. He needed his Aragorn, emblematic face of the novel. It was Viggo Mortensen approached at last instant finally while another actor was envisaged. Viggo was persuaded by his son to accept the role, itself being at this instant of history when little familiarized in us and usages of the earth of the middle. It is however with an impressive involvement that it will prepare its role, going to the point of going for a walk on the street or in the restaurant with its sword to feel the figure. It represents it very physically, accomplishing him even its battles and its waterfalls, making besides say to his film director that he has a heroic presence in Douglas Fairbanks. It does not handle carefully its efforts, will make some war wounds during filming to reside very close to sound figure, splendid combatant if he is there. It is part of these rare people enough property so that this knows, agreeing with every member of the team, always available, always warm-hearted and holding for instance a kind of photographic newspaper of filming which will finish besides published so much the look of the actor is generous and particular. In brief, when a star is unanimously having appreciated of the film director, technicians, that it even does not hesitate sometimes to lay the hand on paste, they tell themselves that they are not in front of one of these spoiled and capricious children but in front of a guy definitely, as they do not cease seeing it in these marvellous making-of which make the nobility of nice long versions of the trilogy in DVD.

But there is more a physical performance than as the role of Aragorn, son of Arathorn, a spiritual dimension, the last offshoot of descendants of kings broken and marked by the hold of the ring in who his forefather Isildur was subjected. And Aragorn escapes the lineage, has it practically disavowed, finding shelter to the elves and in the love of nice Arwen (Liv Tyler). The trilogy is the history of its identity which reasserts, of this royal blood which he must take out of necessity first, to save the world of the threat of Sauron, Because Aragorn is tormented, rejects this power justify which is his, leaves it. The three instants of history also tell us (and perhaps first) the history of its reconquest, a man who leaves its hiding-place, its wrong identity of Big - the prowler and ends up embracing his destiny, so that thanks to him, there is a Return of the king. But it is kneaded of doubts, in the permanent fear of curse which weighs on those of his blood, for fear of losing his friends, his love. It is a man who believes lose everything permanently and who remembers the one that he must be with reluctance, under universal threat. He is driven back to become king when all that he likes is in a hopeless situation, when he believes have lost everything. What is all ambiguity of this figure which finds in face of Mortensen all nobility and torments which he demanded, that of somebody who has already a bit lived and who clears a certain depth, a certain experience. They do not any more manage to imagine it under another appearance.

They find it then after this big instant in Hidalgo, good instant of entertainment with a breath of epic adventure in ancient, in the descendants " Fairbanks ", since it represents an outstanding horseman on a nice mustang, engaged in horse a running across the desert. The role demands of the actor a physical investment as he likes them, they imagine that he did not make ask.

But it is really during his meeting with David Cronenberg that Viggo reveals all delicacy of his game, and answers all those who wondered if he went one day to be able to distance himself from the imposing face of Aragorn, if there were not going to be these actors assimilated a bit sadly in the single role, of those that the individual heckles on the street in the autumn of their life by crying with a booming voice: « Look, it is Aragorn! ». But it was very wrong know the actor and the nice tormented roles which he had been able to endorse before the Lord of rings.

David Cronenberg was going to perfect things with the very nice A History of violence. The participation between the actor and the movie director is indisputable. He marries the strangeness of his world as seldom an actor made it before, participating in the subtle evolution of its style at once. Tom Stall holds a restaurant and is a happy father and without stories. Only one day, victim of an armed robbery it slaughters of a too sure hand the robbers who threaten it. It attracts the attention of gangsters in search of a missing killer. They think that it is it. His life thinks there it is confused. Viggo Mortensen supports equilibrium and doubt during as longer as possible. Is he this man for whom they take him? This cool-headed and cruel killer? Nobody succeeds in believing in it because it clears such innocence, such banality, in its standard family happiness and harmonious as the symbol of the american way of life (good worker, honest citizen, good husband, good father) that the extraordinary seems completely excluded from the life. Then when this mister tout-le-monde is baited by bandits, it seems a little incongruous. Only in front of his skill at killing people, the beyond suspicion and explosive violence which he can show, they realize that something does not turn circle in this nice picture.

There is the face of Mortensen, opened and benevolent first which just like that closes up, other one becomes. This face it is its history, it is really on him that blends in the film. They understand it first, they consider that they know it. Then it darkens, he becomes contained, unpredictable, codes and vices break, the norms of the society and appearance also. The role draws you away on a wrong perpetual lane till any end. And Tom Stall remains a mystery. With a consummate art of manipulation and suggestion, Cronenberg and Mortensen confuse perception and judgement in one of the most intriguing films of these last years since he questions the appearance by showing obviousness, first degree, then by blurring him completely in a confusion that the cinema manages to lead only too seldom with so much workmanship. An actor of experience and a big movie director was needed for it. Result is rather dizzy.
Viggo Mortensen shows the habitual involvement for the second collaboration with big Cronenberg for the Promises of the shade, visiting the places where the figure evolves in Russia, gaining knowledge of the culture of the country, wanting to understand the signification of tattoos which tell the history of the hero. Naomi Watts is this time the witness of her complete immersion in the role, his permanent consideration also for all those who work with him. They tell themselves that here is an engaging, honest and serious, respectful man of his art and completely devoted to what it makes, far from din, rumours people, entirely dedicated to fulfil nice things and to achieve its artist's life with a nice humility, a nice constancy and a nice coherence.

Doña San Lorenza wrote:

¡Gracias/thanks you, Snowy!
¡I like it very mucho!
Now I can reed to also because I do not understand Frances/French.

you are welcome,Elena!
Hope you gonna enjoy it!