Thief, The Review

The international image of the victorious postwar Soviet Union under Stalin was always a positive one, so it`s fascinating to see, in Pavel Chukrai`s impressive film, The Thief, what seems to have been the reality. The film is mainly set in 1952, and the society it depicts is far from the propaganda images of a contented Communist society. Katya, Ekaterina Rednikova, is a young war widow trying to care for her six-year-old son, Sanya, Misha Filipchuk. We meet them on a crowded train which is speeding across this vast country, a country where many people, including Katya and Sanya, are on the brink of starvation. Their salvation proves to be Tolyan, Vladimir Maskov, a handsome soldier who takes a fancy to Katya and becomes a surrogate father for Sanya. But there`s disillusionment in store for the boy - this man, the first father figure he`s known, isn`t a soldier at all - he`s a thief.This gripping drama, stunningly well shot by Vladimir Klimov, was nominated for a Best Foreign Film Oscar this year, and though it didn`t win it was certainly a worthy contender. Virtually a three-hander, the film vividly depicts a chaotic period of social upheaval via the story of a ruthlessly exploitative man who brings not happiness but destruction into the lives of the vulnerable young mother and son to whom he attaches himself. The boy`s confusion and anguish are beautifully expressed in young Misha Filipchuk`s performance, and the adults are impressive too. Above all, Chukrai`s insights into his characters make The Thief a gripping experience.