The Bull

At the end of the 1990s Russia is finding it tough getting back on its feet after the breakup of the USSR – the country is ravaged by economic and moral decay, a fact reflected in the proliferation of local criminal gangs. The leader of one such group, a young guy known as the Bull, ends up at the police station after a scuffle with a rival mob. He only manages to avoid prison thanks to the intervention of a feared mafia boss, who nevertheless asks him to pull off a risky job in return. Former ballet dancer and graduate of VGIK Boris Akopov offers up an exceptionally mature feature debut, a taut drama whose energetic soundtrack, compulsive narrative rhythm and raw performances faithfully capture the hostile spirit of post-Soviet Russia. (Karlovy Vary International Film Festival)