Watch Cargo 200
- 2007
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7.1 (11,701)
Cargo 200 is a Russian film from 2007, directed by Alexey Balabanov. The movie is a dark, gritty portrayal of life in the Soviet Union during the 1980s. The story is set in a small town where a young woman, Angelika (Agniya Kuznetsova), goes missing. Her fiancé, Valera (Leonid Gromov), sets out on a search for her and finds himself drawn into a world of corruption and violence.
The movie depicts a society that is crumbling from within, as corrupt officials and criminal gangs are running rampant. The police are powerless to stop them, and the people are too afraid to speak out. In this chaotic world, Valera and Angelika's brother, Pashka (Aleksey Poluyan), are the only ones who are willing to stand up to the criminals.
The title of the movie, Cargo 200, refers to the code name used by the Soviet military for the transportation of soldiers' corpses from Afghanistan during the war. The name is a fitting metaphor for the movie, as the characters in the film are all damaged in some way, either physically or emotionally.
The film is shot in a harsh, naturalistic style, with hand-held cameras and long, unbroken takes. The use of canted angles, slow-motion and other techniques add to the oppressive atmosphere of the movie.
The acting in the film is superb. Agniya Kuznetsova delivers a haunting portrayal of Angelika, a woman who has lost all hope and is resigned to her fate. Leonid Gromov is also excellent as Valera, a man who is forced to confront the ugliness of the world that he lives in. Aleksey Poluyan is particularly impressive as Pashka, a ruthless gangster who is torn between loyalty to his family and his own ambition.
Overall, Cargo 200 is a powerful and uncompromising film that offers a stark, unflinching view of a society in decay. It is a movie that is difficult to watch at times, but it is also a movie that demands to be seen. It is a testament to the talent of the cast and crew that they were able to create a movie that is both disturbing and thought-provoking.