Chizkeik

Three people from totally different backgrounds are cast in a commercial promoting a wholesome dessert: Mikhail the physician (Sergei Chonishvili), Natasha the professional actress (Olga Lomonosova), and thirteen-year-old Alyosha, cast "right off the street". They portray such an idealized family for the ad that Alyosha decides that he will stop at nothing to make his life as perfect as the one he 'played on TV'...

Director Eugene Zvezdakov's deft hand guides the subtle script by Elena Dolgopyat to slowly and carefully bring the viewer to the surprising ending, aided by a fine score by Daniel Kalashnik.

A great example of the new direction in Russian 'Indie' film making; an outstanding performance from Pavel Melenchuk, virtually unknown outside of Russia, as Alyosha, anchors this beautifully made psychological thriller, a sleeper even in Russia.