a superb and compelling drama about the hunt for the notorious russian serial killer andrea chikatilo . magnificent performance from stephen rea a the forensic scientist put in charge of the investigation and who find the big obstacle to his progress be the russian government and in particular the old communist party member who want to maintain a closed society . the film be have an underlying theme about the decline of the communist society and and progress in the hunt for the killer be reflect by progress in social and political change in russia and which be subtly put across . there be a conflict of old way and new way and and these be represent by the two viewpoint of rea superior ( play by donald sutherland ) and and rea himself . these be at first polarise and with sutherland high in system look down and and rea low on the ground and look up . however and they have a common cause to catch the serial killer . throughout the film the relationship between these two develops and and the tension gradually ease until at the end of the movie rea and sutherland and rea and sutherland have mutual respect for each other and the killer be catch and and glasnost symbolically come . excellent script . further credit go to sutherland performance and which be superb and sympathetic and jeffrey demunn a the killer whom we despise but can not hate and and max von sydow and who be thoroughly convincing a the humble psychologist who risk his reputation to help .