Aimless ex-army youth Danila (Bodrov) moves to St Petersburg seeking
direction from his older brother (Sukhorukov), who turns out to be a
hit-man. The title is a little misleading as the film barely explores
the relationship between the brothers, concentrating more on
Danila's interaction with the city. It is a well-paced portrait of the
lower depths of contemporary Russia and its racial and socio-economic
tensions; not enough action to be an out-and-out thriller, but enough
humanism to avoid being a downer. Popular enough in Russia to warrant a
sequel, but controversial as it hardly presents an optimistic view of
the future.
