Brother

I really enjoyed this film. There were a bunch of elements that stood out to me.

I felt Danila's relationship with Nemets was almost fairy tale-esque. He was a traveler, and in helping a lower man, he was rewarded (in this case, with a group of "friends" and a cheap room). This was furthered when he is taken to that gazebo, and introduced to the group of, I think, hobos. He came with a present for his brother, but instead shares it with the men in the gazebo. I just kept thinking of cases where a traveler gives his last bit of bread to an elderly man/woman who ends up being enchanted and helping him out in the end. Nemets stuck with Danila, even when he didn't agree with what he was doing...he gave him guidance.

Maybe it was the organized crime motif, but parts did remind me of the film Boondock Saints. The attitudes and clothing, even the music to some extent, seemed very punk. Not to keep referencing other movies, but there were times I was like "Whoa, SLC Punk!"

I did notice there was not a lot of dialogue. The fraternal relationship was interesting. Though he was older, Viktor seemed to have the mentality of a younger sibling. Actually, I can't say that...I'm the elder sister, and my little sister is actually really protective of me. I was amazed at the love Danila felt for Viktor, even after he had betrayed him. I also found it interesting that Danila is so obviously jaded, and yet I kept forgetting that and saw him as an innocent- listening to his walkman and experiencing city life. Then he'd knock someone off and I'd remember that he's frighteningly familiar with weaponry and murder.

I love that there was a McDonalds....obvious product placement. Was that perhaps to show western influence? I thought it was funny when he went off on that French guy for being American. I had figured out he was French, and then I got confused when Danila was calling him American...I felt better when it turned out he was the confused one. However, that scene showed an attitude toward Americans, and it wasn't a good one. -But then there was a prominently displayed Golden Arch...it even framed Danila as the camera zoomed out. Perhaps a mixed attitude toward western culture?

It seems the characters in these movies really like their watermelons. This is not the first time a scene has made use of the watermelon. In this movie it was to make Danila appear a bit more casual before he killed people- in Little Vera the parents give one to Viktor before he leaves. Sveta's dog was hilarious. At first I didn't know what it was, and thought of the movie Critters, then I smiled every time it ran away from the camera.

The use of music was great. You could tell it was going to be an important element, especially to Danila, from the beginning, when he asks what the song is. He frequents music stores, concerts, and almost always has his headphones on. Eventually, this obsession with music is what saves his life, when his discman blocks a bullet. I would definitely watch this again, and will probably recommend it to my sister.