An elderly woman takes a train trip to visit her grandson at his army camp inside Chechnya.

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Cast

Credited cast:
...
Aleksandra Nikolaevna
Vasily Shevtsov ...
Denis
Raisa Gichaeva ...
Malika
Rest of cast listed alphabetically:
Andrei Bogdanov
Sultan Dokaev
Aleksandr Kladko
...
Vovka
Aleksei Neymyshev
Rustam Shakhgireev
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Storyline

An elderly woman takes a train trip to visit her grandson at his army camp inside Chechnya.

Plot Summary | Add Synopsis

Genres:

Drama | War

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Release Date:

26 September 2007 (France)  »

Also Known As:

Alexandra  »

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Aspect Ratio:

1.85 : 1
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Did You Know?

Goofs

(A 54:24) In Malika's house, Malika invites Alexandra to take her jacket off. Alexandra does so laboriously. 20 seconds later she's suddenly wearing it again, and works her way out of it once more. See more »

Connections

Featured in Sokurovin ääni (2014) See more »

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User Reviews

 
A tender story of a grandmother's concern
30 April 2009 | by (United States) – See all my reviews

I don't know many grandmothers that would take a troop train across Russia, then get on top a troop transport to visit their grandson (Vasily Shevtsov), an Army Captain in Chechnya. But this grandmother (Galina Vishnevskaya) did. It was certainly an arduous journey for the elderly woman.

The films color is appropriate for the hot and dirty climate where here grandson is stationed. The soldiers are all shirtless and just sit around waiting. The other soldiers watch her with fascination, probably thinking of home and their own grandmothers.

She makes her way to the market where cigarettes are priced depending upon you rank. The locals look at the Russians with disgust. She manages to connect with a local, Malika (Raisa Gichaeva), who treats her like a sister.

It is not a place for a grandmother, but she manages to connect again with her grandson before he goes off on a five-days mission, and she boards the troop train home.

It was only anti-war in a subtle sense. The futility of it all was visible, but not exaggerated. Maybe the futility was finally recognized as the Russians are to leave Chechnya soon.

A very good story.


3 of 5 people found this review helpful.  Was this review helpful to you?

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