ozan1982 Even it's a period drama, I believe this piece of art will never bore those who has no interest or knowledge about stalin-era. Its touching and well-developed story is easy to follow but never shallow. The casting is perfect. The faces of 3 main characters are hard to forget. I think Soviet experience, especially the Great Purge in 1930's deserves much more historical movies. And in general soviet period dramas must more concentrate on the social and economic backrounds of the system rather than limiting itself with narrow family or crime stories. I can't say this movie doesn't try it, but it could be much stronger. And one more remark, the story is not fully based on political metaphors. That's why I've found it very successful since the author tells the story of ordinary people, instead of being obsessive with simple methafors. Highly recommended.

mobin-07 Pavel Chukhrai does not belong to any list of "Notable" film directors of Russia,nonetheless he has shown some amount of flair through his meek direction and screenplay in drama"vor" a.k.a."The Thief".The movie is centered upon three characters- a widowed woman, with her little child who envisages his father every now and then and a charming but rakish officer to whom material gain matters most.Like some other hailed Russian movies it deals with grim picture of reality with no magical finishing touch.It certainly won't make you cheer or applaud but will move you a bit that's for sure.Both acting and cinematography has been brilliant,Though editing and sound mixing could have been better. Acting of Misha Philipchuk as 6 year old sanya is priceless. Flying colors of European cinemas with highest possible proximity to realness are depicted through the wonderfully done cinematography. Watch it,it won't cost you much !

slonarch This is one of my favorite films. Every time I see it, it touches me deeply and I can't get it out of my mind for a day or two. It helps me put my life into perspective and revisit the basic assumptions by which I live. Since the plot has been summarized by many other reviewers, I'll just share my own perception of the film.While there is an important political and historic component to it, the movie is, in my opinion, about relationships: love and fatherhood. Despite the sadness, the story is inspiring in a way, as it reminds the viewer of the power (in this case - destructive) of the true love. It would make you cherish the love that you are lucky to have, or will make you want to seek one.The film also shows the role that a father plays in a boy's life, in becoming a man, and the faithfulness and commitment that are the platform of such relationship. Again, the tragedy of the fake, non-committed fatherhood helps put things into perspective for the rest of us.I disagree with other reviewers that seem to think that this is a film primarily about Stalinist Russia. When you see a story that introduces you to a new, unfamiliar environment, you tend to pay attention more to the environment than to the story. If "Romeo and Juliette" was filmed on Mars, you'd keep staring at the Martian landscapes instead of the actors. Keep in mind that this movie was intended primarily for consumption by Russians, who are generally aware of how their country looked back then. By focusing purely on the landscape (toasts to Stalin, communal apartments, ruined post-war country) you'll miss the play.

Vash2001 I finally saw this movie, and I am glad that I did. The storyline has been described by many already, so I won't go into it. It held my attention from beginning to end. I loved the landscapes of the old USSR. The life depicted in this movie seems very realistic, and the acting is SUPERB by all three main characters- Sania, Katia, and Tolian. They are very natural, not acting at all. The suffering is heart wrenching and seems almost unavoidable. What would a single mother do to raise her son in the 1950's in Stalinist USSR? She takes the opportunity, regrets it after a while but cannot really break through. Ekaterina displays the mixed emotions beautifully without going over the top. Same with Vladimir who plays the soldier aka Thief. However, the most amazing performance is given by Misha, the little boy who plays little Sania, for 90% of the movie. His piercing blue eyes, his happy smile and his tears stole my heart.A must see if you want to see a movie that touches your soul.