Брат (Brother)

      When in an interview Aleksei Balabanov  is quoted saying that, "Some find Brother immoral, some find it moral, but I don't actually care", one can't help but picture words of a similar effect sprouting from the lips of the film's protagonist, Danila Bagrov. Danila's ambiguous relationship to honesty and his penchant for dispensing precise and unemotional death demonstrates the extent of his concern with morality and popular opinion. The film follows Danila as he navigates through the criminal underworld and power vacuum present in Leningrad following the dissolution of the Soviet Union. Danila smokes some joints, listens to some jams, and wastes some dudes all the while in pursuit of... what?
     Here is where the film breaks from many of it's contemporary Western Counterparts of the Action/Adventure/Drama genre. Danila lacks any visible aim, or any typical human aim at least. His pursuit of wealth is merely superficial, he dispenses with it as quickly as he acquires it. His sex relations follow the same course, a partner is taken on as easily as she is left behind. One may argue that he appears to be a protector of some of the weaker elements of society, but it is in appearance only. His motivation does not seem to stem from any need for affection or 'fairness', he merely acts on what might be called conditioned impulses. Danila displays a disdain for Jews and an aversion to most who wouldn't be classified as ethnically Russian, attitudes likely picked up passively from his surroundings. One would be sorely mistaken if they came to the conclusion that these affectations were arrived at through any form of introspection.
    So just what is it that young Danila desires? It becomes more and more apparent as the film progresses that his main interest is in experience. His desire is linked intimately to the immediate manifestation of an object. There is no heartbreak when his lover demands he leave. He has no qualms about his brother's betrayal merely because he is conditioned to respect that relationship. If his understanding of the familial relation had arisen from any actual desire for love or companionship and a healthy respect of those conditions Danila would have shown at least a modicum of emotion in the face of his brother's betrayal.
   A primordial man will guzzle the beer and suck down the egg, experience the moment and move on. And so it goes, as for morality and society-Danila probably doesn't "actually care". As an film it was entertaining, and portrayed a rather ugly vision of Post-Soviet Russia. I don't doubt the accuracy of certain elements, but I do doubt that the majority of the population exhibited quite the same lack of all human pursuits- even the majority of criminals.

Разговор

-Привет, тыи уже обедеш?
-Да, я пооебедал. Я ходил в ресторане "Кухня Мамы".
-Я всегда хожу там. У их ест мой любимый суп.
-Что ты хочешь делать?
-Я голоден, но севодня вечером я буду есть болшой ужин. Можно ты идём в кино.
-Сейчас в кино нет филма я хочу смотреть. У их есть вчера, но я не знал.
-Куда ты хочешь идти?
- Я не знаю. Я выпил много водку в ресторане, и я думаю ты скучный. Да, ты скучный, всегда ты хочешь идти один ресторан, ты хочешь слушать одна программу на радио или телевизор. Мне скучно!
-... ты не идеальный человек... я иду в кино.
- Нормально, мы идём.