Film
What's on at the cinema plus reviews of the latest movie and DVD releases
Bookmark this pageLilya 4-ever (2002)
Director: Lukas Moodysson
Movie review
From Time Out Film Guide
Sixteen-year-old Lilya (Akinshina) is cruelly abandoned by her mother to post-Soviet welfare and an aunt who only wants to steal the little she has. From here, things go downhill. The aunt turfs her out of their flat. Her only true friend is Volodya (Bogucharskij), a suicidal 13-year-old suffering at the fists of his father. Her only asset is her looks. It's taken for granted she will cash in sooner or later. Then she meets Andrei, who holds out the promise of a better world, and provides her with what we know all along will be a one-way ticket to hell on earth. Writer/director Moodysson's third film is grim and gruelling, a 'feelbad' entertainment signalled by scalding blasts of cacophonous Rammstein at ear-splitting volume. A flashback structure imbues the manifold injustices which befall Lilya with a harrowing inevitability. The film's soul is revealed in the friendship between Lilya and Volodya, their solace in sorrows shared, her innate kindness and generosity, his reciprocal fidelity and affection. Moodysson retains his knack for getting vivid, natural, immensely sympathetic performances out of children. Their humanity invests the movie with heartbreaking power.Author: TCh
User reviews of this film
-
- Chrissie said...
- Posted on Jun 19 2010 00:34 A brilliantly sad movie, it stays with u 4 ever. Should bcompulsory viewing in schools , uni's The actors, director were amazing.
- Report as inappropriate
Cast & crew
Director: Lukas Moodysson
Producer: Lars Jönsson
Cast: Oksana Akinshina, Artiom Bogucharskij, Ljubov Agapova, Lilia Sinkarjova, Elina Benenson, Pavel Ponomarjov, Tomas Neumann full cast
Duration: 109 mins
Most popular on this site
Top Stories
Has David Cronenberg turned tame?
Has director David Cronenberg veered too far from his radical and bloody roots with new film 'A Dangerous Method'?
The 10 worst date movies
Just in time for Valentine's Day, we present ten of the least romantic films ever made
Where to watch this year's Oscar-nominated films
Find out where to watch 2012's Oscar-nominated films in London cinemas
10 unlikely badboy biopics
Featuring Phil Collins, Jeremy Clarkson, Nick Clegg, David Starkey and a host of other unlikely subjects
Interview: Sean Durkin on 'Martha Marcy May Marlene'
The first-time director of the brilliant new thriller discusses religious cults and robot boxing
Pop-up cinema for Valentine's Day
Side-step romantic clichés with some alternative Valentine’s viewing
What do you think?
Post your review now