10 best films by Alexey Balabanov

1. Load 200

• Russia, 2007.
• Thriller, drama.
• Duration: 90 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.1.

In 1984, a girl disappears after a disco. Nobody knows where to find her. At the same time, a second crime occurs - a brutal murder. Police captain Zhurov is assigned to investigate these two cases.

“Cargo 200” is the most brutal film by Alexei Balabanov. Many actors refused to film after reading the script, including Evgeny Mironov, Sergei Makovetsky and Kirill Pirogov. The director made a strong statement about the late USSR and the war in Afghanistan.

2. Brother

• Russia, 1997.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 100 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.8.

Danila Bagrov returns to his hometown after serving in the army and goes to his brother in St. Petersburg to help him get settled. Victor is behaving extremely strangely. It turns out he is a hired killer. Gradually, he drags Danila into criminal affairs.

The film "Brother" has become a cult film over the years. The film was shown as part of the Un Certain Regard at Cannes Film Festival, but this did not help the box office - the film began to sell out theaters later. Only after the release of the second part did “Brother” receive due attention. Now the film is appreciated for its dialogues and interesting characters, and the locations where filming took place attract tourists.

3. Brother 2

• Russia, 2000.
• Action, crime.
• Duration: 127 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.6.

Danila Bagrov, together with former colleagues, participates in a television program dedicated to veterans of the Chechen war. One of the hero's comrades is subsequently killed. Danila does not want to leave everything as it is, he must help the brother of the deceased. The hero gets involved in gang warfare, which brings him to the United States.

The second “Brother” turned out to be much larger than the first - filming took place in Moscow and America. Not only the locations have changed, but also the main character - Danila - has become simpler, because of this the picture is more reminiscent of American action films than the first part. However, it is “Brother 2"turned Alexey Balabanov into a superstar.

4. About freaks and people

• Russia, 1998.
• Drama, comedy.
• Duration: 93 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.0.

Johann is the owner of a photography studio. Sometimes he takes ordinary portraits, but among the townspeople he is better known as the author of erotic photographs. Johann's addiction to pornography destroys the lives of the people who contact him.

Premiere of a unique film about pornography in the Russian Empire, “About Freaks and Men” took place at the Cannes Film Festival. Balabanov came up with the idea for the film back in 1993, but he could not find the money for filming. The director tried to agree on a budget at international festivals, using his contacts, but the search for resources dragged on for several years.

5. Zhmurki

• Russia, 2005.
• Comedy, crime.
• Duration: 111 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.2.

Seryoga and Simon work for a big bandit. After failing a mission, they are forced to correct their mistakes, realizing that if they fail again, they will be killed. Their plans are thwarted by a policeman who is trying to use his official position for profit, and other bandits.

The main roles were played by Alexey Panin, Dmitry Dyuzhev and Nikita Mikhalkov, and the approval of famous actors in most cases occurred without auditions. The picture came out really bloody - a huge amount of props was used during filming.

6. I want too

• Russia, 2012.
• Drama, crime.
• Duration: 89 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.4.

Five people go to a mysterious bell tower. They don’t fully understand where it is, but they know the landmarks. There they hope to find happiness.

“I Want Too” is the latest film directed by Alexei Balabanov. The film premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. This is a mysterious and strange picture, which is often compared to “Stalker” Andrei Tarkovsky. There is not only a mystical plot here, but also a special connection with reality - the bell tower to which the heroes were traveling collapsed on the 40th day after Balabanov’s death.

7. War

• Russia, 2002.
• Action, war, drama.
• Duration: 120 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.5.

Aslan Gugaev is the commander of Chechen militants. He releases Vanya Ermakov and the Englishman John Boyle from captivity, leaving Boyle's fiancee in hostages. The foreigner must collect the ransom, but cannot find that kind of money. John meets with Vanya and they decide to go to Chechnya to free the girl, as well as Captain Medvedev.

Balabanov managed to make an extremely realistic film. To do this, he did a lot of work: talking with former prisoners, looking at chronicles of military operations, and so on. The main role in “War” was played by Alexey Chadov, who later became a star.

8. Happy Days

• USSR, 1991.
• Drama.
• Duration: 86 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.9.

The main character is a man without a name, wandering the streets of St. Petersburg. Some call him Boreas, for others he is Peter. The man is trying to find a room to live there, but this is impossible.

“Happy Days” is the debut film of Alexei Balabanov, which was shown at the Cannes Film Festival out of competition. The film was warmly received by both critics and viewers. The main role was played by Viktor Sukhorukov.

9. Morphine

• Russia, 2008.
• Drama.
• Duration: 107 minutes.
• IMDb: 7.2.

In 1917, Mikhail Polyakov received the position of rural doctor. The treatment of the first patient turns into a disaster - he dies of diphtheria, and Polyakov himself is now worried about his life. After an injection of the serum, the hero faces pain and itching, which morphine can combat.

“Morphine” was filmed according to the script of Sergei Bodrov Jr., who took “Notes of a Young Doctor” as a basis. Mikhail Bulgakov. Starring Leonid Bichevin, Ingeborga Dapkunaite and Andrey Panin. Initially, Sergei Bodrov, Jr., was supposed to play Polyakov, but he died, and the role went to Bichevin.

10. It doesn't hurt me

• Russia, 2006.
• Drama, melodrama.
• Duration: 104 minutes.
• IMDb: 6.7.

A relationship begins between a young designer Misha and a rich woman Natella. She has lost interest in life, but the young romantic changes the heroine’s attitude towards herself and those around her. At the same time, Natella is forced to keep secrets, the disclosure of which could turn the young man away from her.

The role of Natella was played by Renata Litvinova, and the role of Misha by Alexander Yatsenko. Nikita Mikhalkov also starred in the film. Critics especially praised the director's work and acting - in their opinion, without these components the film would have turned out to be another lackluster melodrama.