Reviews

To me, this film is about selfishness and inability to accept responsibility for one's actions. This is such a relevant topic not only in Russia but pretty much everywhere in Europe. People are so convinced that the only that matters in their lives is their personal happiness and nothing else. And if you have made a mistake in your past, someone else, not you is responsible for this mistake.

The film starts with a very typical argument between exes that is filled with accusations from both sides. It is clear that the married couple who are in the middle of the divorce have never been happy. They have let someone else decide that they had to get married and have been quite unhappy and unfulfilled since.

It is their parent's fault, their society's fault, it is their child's fault that they are unhappy. They actually believe that it was not their own doing and their own choice. And now that they are stuck in this situation they are both seeking the easiest way out, and that does not include their son.

The father's attitude is extremely common among Soviet men, that it is mothers responsibility to take care of the child, and in 99% of cases that is exactly what would happen. Except, in this case, the mother is also selfish. She does not want the burden of bringing the child to her new lover. So her blame and bitterness are clear to everyone, including the child himself. I can not imagine the pain of the child and what it could do to someone's psyche. Knowing that you are not loved and not wanted, that you are in the way of your parents' happiness. So it is no wonder that he decides to run away.

Even though it should be every parent's worst nightmare, this is exactly what they both wanted. To get rid of him. But of course, this does not result in happiness either. Now they have even more things to blame for their miserable lives.