Watch The Man Who Surprised Everyone

The Man Who Surprised Everyone is a 2018 Russian drama film directed by Natasha Merkulova and Aleksey Chupov. The film's story follows a man named Egor who is suffering from leukemia and struggling to come to terms with his illness. However, when he is given a terminal diagnosis by his doctors, he decides to take matters into his own hands and becomes determined to cheat death.

Egor is a family man and a hard-working logger in a small village in Russia. He is loved by his wife and son and respected by his friends and neighbors. However, his life is turned upside down when he is diagnosed with leukemia. Despite receiving treatment, Egor's condition worsens and he is told that he only has a few months to live.

Devastated by the news, Egor decides to forego medical treatment and instead, turns to a local healer for help. The healer advises Egor to change his gender in order to cheat death. Egor takes the advice seriously and begins to transform himself into a woman, believing that this will give him a new lease on life.

The film follows Egor's transformation as he tries to pass himself off as a woman named Elena. He shaves his head, dons women's clothes, and even assumes a new identity as a cleaner at a maternity hospital. Despite facing ridicule and discrimination from his family and community, Egor remains committed to his transformation and refuses to revert back to his old self.

As the months go by, Egor's health appears to improve as Elena. However, he faces a new set of challenges as he tries to maintain his disguise. He fears being caught by the authorities and living the remainder of his life behind bars. Meanwhile, his wife struggles to come to terms with her husband's transformation and his son feels abandoned by his father.

The Man Who Surprised Everyone is a powerful and emotional film that explores themes of gender identity, illness, and death. The film's lead actor, Evgeniy Tsyganov, delivers a stunning performance as Egor/Elena, capturing the character's pain, desperation, and determination. Natalya Kudryashova also deserves recognition for her portrayal of Egor's wife, providing a nuanced and realistic depiction of a woman struggling to cope with her husband's transformation.

The film's cinematography is stunning, capturing the beauty of the Russian countryside and the subtle changes in Egor's appearance as he transforms into Elena. The film's score is haunting and melancholic, adding to the emotional weight of the story.

Overall, The Man Who Surprised Everyone is a thoughtful and thought-provoking film that offers a unique perspective on gender and identity. It is a film that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

The Man Who Surprised Everyone is a 2020 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 45 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.6.