Watch The Lightest Darkness

The Lightest Darkness, released in 2017, is a Russian drama film directed by Diana Galimzyanova. The movie tells the story of Nikita (Rashid Aitouganov), a young man who struggles to make ends meet in contemporary Moscow. After losing his job in the corporate world, Nikita is forced to take odd jobs to survive, including working for a mysterious man named Anatoly (Kolya Neukoelln).

Anatoly, a former scientist, has a strange and morbid fascination with death, and he hires Nikita to help him conduct experiments to find a way to cheat death. As Nikita becomes more deeply involved in Anatoly's twisted world, he begins to question his sanity, and the fine line between life and death becomes increasingly blurred.

At the same time, Nikita falls in love with a young woman named Alina (Irina Gevorgyan), who is also struggling to find her place in the world. As Nikita's relationship with Alina blossoms, he is forced to confront his own mortality and the reality of life in modern-day Russia.

The Lightest Darkness is a complex and thought-provoking film that explores themes of life and death, love and loss, and the struggle to find one's place in the world. The film is shot in black and white, giving it a noir-like quality that adds to the dark and moody atmosphere of the story.

The performances in the movie are powerful and deeply affecting. Rashid Aitouganov delivers a nuanced and layered performance as Nikita, capturing the character's struggle to come to terms with his own mortality. Kolya Neukoelln is mesmerizing as the enigmatic and disturbed Anatoly, bringing a creepy intensity to every scene he is in. Irina Gevorgyan is also excellent as Alina, playing the character with a quiet strength and emotional depth.

The Lightest Darkness is a slow-burning movie that takes its time to develop its characters and themes. The movie is not for everyone, and some viewers may find it too bleak or depressing. However, for those who are willing to delve deep into its dark and complex world, The Lightest Darkness is a rewarding and thought-provoking cinematic experience.

Overall, The Lightest Darkness is a haunting and powerful film that will stay with viewers long after the credits have rolled. It is a testament to the power of independent cinema, and a must-see for fans of thought-provoking drama.

The Lightest Darkness is a 2022 foreign movie with a runtime of 1 hour and 23 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.5.