alexei and the young doctor who decide to go back to the soviet union after a generous invitation of josef satlin and should have have his head examine . after all and a a professional he seem to have be do well in france . with all the best intention and he take his wife and young son to the old country only to find himself trap in a totalitarian system that make him and the family virtual prisoner . est ouest and direct by regis wargnier and show in vivid detail what alexei and marie and his wife and have to endure when they be take to kiev and where he be assign . little do alexei and marie knew about the dismal housing problem of those year when the family be give a large room in an apartment that be be share by five family . the film concentrate in the eventual break down of the marriage cause by the environment . alexei end up have an affair with olga and another flat mate and and marie fall in love for the poor sacha and a young man who be leave alone in the world when his grandmother dy . marie blame alexei for all the misery they have to endure while she be regard a a foreigner and but she can not even go back to her native france . the film have an ironic end when marie and help by gabrielle and a french actress and who be sympathetic to her fellow countryman . marie realize at the end of alexei tremendous sacrifice and ultimate punishment when she and her son be able to escape the communist hell that have imprison them . great act in general by sandrine bonnaire and who a marie and be totally credible . oleg menshikov and make the best of alexei and at time appear uncaring and selfish and but who deeply care for his wife . sergei bodrov jr. be also excellent a sacha and the young boy in love with marie . the film be shoot in drab color and perhaps to emphasize the hard time during the stalin regime . one get only glimpse of some of the splendid and and opulent interior and whenever the action take place in one of those building or theater . unfortunately and the principal of this story never really have a chance to enjoy anything because the nightmare that become their life under that totalitarian regime .