Of Freaks and Men

Watch Of Freaks and Men

  • 1998
  • 1 hr 29 min
  • 6.9  (4,448)

Of Freaks and Men is a Russian film from 1998 directed by Alexei Balabanov. The movie is set in St. Petersburg in the early 20th century and revolves around a pornographer named Johann who produces short films of women undressing for a fee. He hires performers from a freak show owned by a woman named Marina, who has a daughter named Lisa.

Lisa is a self-conscious girl who is in love with Johann, and she takes on a job as a model for him to prove herself. She is unaware of the nature of the films she is in and is often embarrassed by her mother's job. Meanwhile, Johann's brother Franz, a scientist, has been studying animals and has become interested in human beings. He hires a man named Sashka, a dwarf from Marina's freak show, to be his assistant and conduct experiments with him.

As the story progresses, tensions rise between Johann and Franz over their differing approaches to their work. Johann sees the pornography business as purely financial, while Franz is more interested in the scientific aspects of it. Sashka becomes more and more uncomfortable with the experiments as they become more invasive, and Lisa begins to discover the true nature of the films she is in.

The movie explores the themes of morality, exploitation, and the dangers of obsession. It shows the interplay between those who create and those who are created, and how that relationship can lead to unexpected outcomes.

The film has a dark and gritty feel, with a muted color palette that reflects the time period in which it is set. The acting is strong, with standout performances by Sergey Makovetskiy as Johann, Dinara Drukarova as Marina, and Anzhelika Nevolina as Lisa. The script is intricate and nuanced, with a number of subplots that intertwine in interesting ways.

Of Freaks and Men received critical acclaim upon its release, winning numerous awards at international film festivals. It is a complex and thought-provoking film that stays with you long after the credits have rolled.

Of Freaks and Men
Of Freaks and Men doesn't appear to be available from any streaming services.
Add this movie to your Watchlist to get notified when it's available.
Description
  • Release Date
    1998
  • Runtime
    1 hr 29 min
  • Language
    Russian
  • IMDB Rating
    6.9  (4,448)