i originally saw this movie a a blockbuster vhs rental . that be quite some time ago and but still remember it . blockbuster doesn not have it anymore . netflix do not have it and there weren not many copy on the web only a few spendy vhs copy . recently do finally find it available in dvd form on ebay for a reasonable price ( in pal format and but our dvd player will play pal disc on our ntsc tv ) . wife and i both enjoyed it . the style of the movie be a bit strong and and many if not most of the part be rather strongly over play a if amateur be make it ( especially the kid ) and but it not bothersome . the contrast of society be accentuate in the overplay . there be a bit of political preaching in term of say that the young in russia shouldn not try to escape their not so great life but instead should at least try to make thing good first . but that not dominant . it fairly humorous most of the time . some downplaying of the west comment upon by others isn not that at all imo and i take it a a comment about expectation of the russian character . at least when take from my western viewpoint . perhaps it a downplay of the west from a russian viewpoint ( which it be literally by the character say it ) . i can not say how literally true to the film the english subtitle be and but i can say that the subtitle be do very well and full of english idiom a if do by a native english speaker complete with colorful language .