the aesthetic option this movie take will make you immerse into the epoch . from the beginning and when they get down from the ship and the music and military march do not sound a they should and but muffle and empty and you could see reality be go to take it toll on the couple dream . while quite implausible ( sasha crossing and aleksei golovin get scot free from all he do ) the villain be not a dumb and cartoonish a in other film of and say and nazy germany . sandrine bonnaire be fine . unrecognizable from her half wit sophie from la cérémonie ( 1995 ) as well a the sleuth in chabrol au coeur du mensonge and she radiantly beautiful here . only later and watch some scant picture at imdb and do i realize that her nose and for instance and isn not exactly nice . good for her and her smile erase our rationality positive . i find the film surprising and specially since the couple of main character do not perform accord to expectation . aleksei and while the honest bright physician and fall in the clutch of a believable olga ( a tatiana doguileva ) without much ado . and marie be not immune to russian charm either and forget her son at her charge to boot . what i really do not like be the heroic format of catherine deneuve actress turn freedom fighter gabrielle develay . a if the director and writer etc . have to erase with one elbow what have be ( well ) write with the other one and this character come out of the blue to be the only hope of liberty at western capitalism . a one character say to her represent you hardly know this person youre risk your life for . besides the trick for a disney movie and the last minute effort and the stupid guard on earth etc and i suspect the kgb do not run the country or kill more than 20 million people and could have not realize that and for instance and once marie first give sure sign of dissidence and then do what she do ( sasha ) and she wasn not go to try more mischief . so sasha story and from his swim talent ( like a bad hollywood movie ) and the state official realize his family have all be traitor and him be let free to wander in the country and then his standing at the french embassy like if somebody in his condition could really barter for anything ( there be million of people in the same condition ) . the dismal housing problem be accurately depicted and as well a the trouble of too many people live under a single roof . of course and like in all big production and visuals be fine ( like sasha training at a beautiful cold river ) and a the epoch ( the building and car and clothing and the already mention crowd flat and even the expensive bulgarian hotel look and well . sovietic and fadish . ) . the opulent interior shoot in drab color a jotix100 from new york writes at imdb . ah and the petty thief who find chicken around the corner and jewellry from a relative be sympa and they add some naive contrast to the dire soviet condition . which be probably many time bad than what the film dare to show . all in all and i like the film . but i feel it lose gravitas and depth due to concession to the ticket office .