Kandagar

Sure, this is a movie about a Russian plane crew who gets kidnapped by the Afghans, thenthe Russians have to live with them for a while and then they kidnap their plane and return back home. But it’s filmed really well. The environment is amazing, the camera is trying to squeeze the best out of the scenery and it’s a joy to watch every single scene. For example, the action scene of the air-raids on the city about mid-way through the movie is the best action scene I’ve ever seen in a Russian movie yet. In my opinion, the movie deserves the exact rating it currently has. The Taliban views of the outside world and Islam are really priceless and as soon as an emotionally straining scene appears, the Russians handle it with grace. I was really overjoyed. (26.05.2013)

An interesting Russian drama, situated in the visually attractive environment of Afghanistan torn by civil war, the factual collapse of state structures, and the society's descent into almost medieval times. The crew of a transport plane is dragged into this boiling cauldron, who are unfortunate enough to be carrying ammunition for government soldiers as part of their cargo to Kabul. When they are forced to make an emergency landing by a rebel fighter jet, they suddenly become hostages, who, although potentially valuable in the propaganda war and as instructors to rebel soldiers, are still uncertain of their fate. Unbelievable dramas unfold before their eyes, and as weeks and months go by, their psyche is more and more affected. Stress, submarine sickness, uncertainty, and clashes of cultural and religious values increasingly take their toll on them. Unlike American productions, this film is noticeably more authentic, not only because it is based on a true story, but also because Russians have been involved in Central Asia for a long time and colonized a significant part of modern Central Asian history, so they know what they are talking about and what they should capture. Moreover, it has a surprisingly decent budget, so viewers are not deprived of (by European standards) a generous production design and it is also of good quality from a technical standpoint. Excellent camera work and very decent direction allow film enthusiasts to enjoy a few truly top-notch scenes, such as the bombing of Kandahar by government forces. On the other hand, the film features the traditional Russian flaw of a strong tendency toward melancholic lyricism, which leads to a loss of pace and the film appears longer than it actually is. However, I have no problem giving it 4 stars, even though the film clearly touches upon traditional strong Russian nationalist sentiments (the captain's statement "We are Russia") or makes a small concession to Americans - try to guess who the masked mysterious "greatest" Muslim in the world was. Overall impression: 75%. (30.04.2012)