User reviews

A film about the life and tribulations of "Mama" Lyuba, who keeps a small brothel in sunny Odessa in the late 1950s. Her relationship with men is difficult, as is to be expected. A young man who is eager to get rid of his virginity has a crash on her, and although she treats him well, she can't take him seriously. She often goes to relax and sunbathe by the seaside, where she befriends Adam, a madman traumatised by WWII, a holy wise fool, a prophet, in the Russian tradition. Adam's horizons are much broader than Lyuba's, and she grows fond and protective towards him, to the point where she starts dreaming of a life with him. As for Adam, he seems to enjoy Lyuba's company, the bottle of wine they share and the little money she gives him every now and then.

In her search for a change for the better in her life, Lyuba sometimes visits her mother's house in her native village, and even tries to settle down there. However, she is rejected both by her mother, whose greeting is "The prostitute has arrived" and particularly by the villagers, who fail to defend her when she is beaten up by a young man whose rough assault she had stopped. In her village she is more lonely and defenseless than in the brothel.

The two main roles, Lyuba and Adam, are very well carried through. Their relationship is a bit more hard to believe. Oksana Fandera, who plays Lyuba, is stunning throughout the film; perhaps too stunning, given her profession. The village scenes come close to being stereotypes.

Beautiful colours and beautiful light in the film. When storms come along, the rain is also exquisitely filmed. Much attention paid to detail. Ultimately, a nostalgic film full of light with a dramatic background.