RottenTomatoes.com
Log In | Register | What is RT?
RT's Blu-ray HQ
  • Home
  • Movies
  • DVD
  • Celebrities
  • News
  • Critics
  • Trailers & Pictures
  • CommunityBeta
  • Box Office
  • | In Theaters
  • | Opening
  • | Upcoming
  • | Best Of
  • | Certified Fresh
  • | Showtimes
RT Search Powered by Google
help icon Enhanced RT
searches on Google
Click here to turn on enhanced search results from RT on your Google searches.
 
Movies / On DVD / Lana's Rain
Lana's Rain

Rate this Movie Help Icon

  • Write a Review
  • Read Reviews
  • Add to List
  • Get this Movie
  • Buy Poster External Icon
  • Visit Official Site External Icon
Bookmark and Share

Lana's Rain (2004)

  • T-Meter Critics
  • Top Critics
  • RT Community
  • My Critics
  • My Friends
  • DVD
22 %
Tomatometer
Template ImageTemplate Image

How does the Tomatometer work Help Icon

Reviews Counted:9

Fresh:2

Rotten:7

Average Rating:4/10

Rated: Not Rated

Runtime: 1 hr 45 mins

Genre: Dramas

Theatrical Release:Feb 27, 2004 Limited

Synopsis: "Tell me Lana, how would you like to see America?" During and following the Balkan Wars of the 1990's, various types of war criminals and low level mobsters escaped to countries in Western... "Tell me Lana, how would you like to see America?" During and following the Balkan Wars of the 1990's, various types of war criminals and low level mobsters escaped to countries in Western Europe fleeing either the authorities or their enemies. Some even found their way to America, hiding out on the back streets of large cities while taking on new identities. Many more innocent people came to America dreaming of a better life and a fresh start away from all the horrors they had witnessed. Out of this turmoil, comes the story of Darko Lucev and his sister Lana. Darko, a criminal on the run, finds illegal transport to America and offers to take his sister Lana with him, who is alone in the world and clinging to the only family she has left, not knowing what lies ahead for her thousands of miles away from home. The Census Bureau recently reported that the foreign born population of the United States as of March 2003 is estimated at 33,000,000, up from 9,600,000 in 1970. The latest numbers indicate that one in every ten U.S. residents are now immigrants. Countless others enter America illegally for any number of reasons hoping to either escape from their past or grab a piece of the American Dream. "When we get settled, I want to learn English…make new friends…even get a job." Lana's hopes are simple ones, but the transition to her new life in America is fraught with danger and deception, brought on by her brother Darko who has his own plans on how to survive in their new country. As the film is told in flashback from Lana's perspective, the story of "Lana's Rain" unfolds against an impersonal city of Chicago, dwarfed by impervious skyscrapers, a perfect city where it's easy for outsiders to get lost on the back streets of the sprawling city, mingling in with other forgotten people found on the fringes of the city…the lonely, the unemployed, the homeless, the prostitutes, the drug addicts. After they roam the streets of Chicago for awhile, the brother and sister find a room in a dingy transient hotel, quickly learning about the underside of American life. "You're the only family I have left" Darko knows only one way of life and is willing to drag even his own sister down with him as he tries to stay two steps ahead of his pursuers. He thinks nothing of exploiting her innocence and takes full advantage of her blind trust and vulnerability. Only when his true intentions become known, does Lana begin to realize she has to find a way to take control of her own life, even if it is at the expense of her brother. "There is no home, all there is, is you and me" After her dreams of a peaceful new life in America are shattered by the grim realities of her new existence with Darko, Lana begins plotting a way out. Before that is able to happen, both their lives begin to careen out of control as the web of danger closes in on them. As Darko's true character is exposed, Lana is forced to decide her own destiny, realizing she will still remain an illegal outsider, a stranger in a strange land. “Lana’s Rain” is a fever dream of a movie, which tackles with headlong energy a combustible mixture of social realism and gritty film noir. The sprawling independent production filmed in 78 locations, including the opening scenes shot in Croatia and ones in Gary, Indiana and Baltimore, Maryland, where Darko and Lana enter America on a freighter. The majority of the film is set in Chicago and shot on numerous locations on the streets of Chicago, in a period when many movies are set in Chicago but actually filmed elsewhere. Sam Fuller was once asked to define a movie…he said, “Well, a film is like a battleground…love, hate, action, death, in one word, emotions.” This is “Lana’s Rain.” [More]

Get This Movie

Rent DVD
 
 

Click on the "ADD" button to put this movie into your Netflix queue.

 
 
Buy DVD
 
 
Release:

Dec 28, 2004

[DVD Details]
 
 
  • This powerful, hard-edged crime drama explores the dark side of the American immigrant experience and dares to ask, "How far would you go to survive?" Lana's only chance to escape the war-torn Balkans is her long-lost brother, Darko, a street-smart gangster with enemies intent on revenge. Isolated at first by her inability to speak English, Lana desperately hopes that she and her brother can achieve the American dream that she can only glimpse. But her illusions are shattered as she is forced to survive by any means possible on the mean streets of Chicago. As she gets pulled deeper and deeper into her brother's criminal world while a steely determination grows in her heart, lana must risk her own life to overcome Darko and his pursuers if she hopes to finally realize her dream.
  • Source: Image Entertainment, Inc.
  •  
     
     
     

    Reviews for Lana's Rain

    • T-Meter Critics
    • Top Critics
    • RT Community
    • My Critics
    • My Friends
    • DVD
     
     
    1 - 10 (sorted by date)
    Text View
    Arrange By:Fresh | Rotten | Comments | Name | Source | Date
     
     
    N/R

    Click to read the article

    Full Review Source: San Diego Metropolitan | comment Comment
    07/03/04
    Jean Lowerison
    Jean Lowerison
    San Diego Metropolitan

    Clumsily under-written and feverishly overacted, it's as embarrassing to watch as it is perplexing.

    Full Review Source: Washington Post | comment Comment
    05/21/04
    Michael O'Sullivan
    Michael O'Sullivan
    Washington Post
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Unfortunately, writer/director /editor Michael S. Ojeda, making his feature debut, veers too often into risible bombast.

    Full Review Source: Los Angeles CityBeat | comment Comment
    04/20/04
    Luke Y. Thompson
    Luke Y. Thompson
    Los Angeles CityBeat

    Cliche-riddled, poorly acted and ultimately delirious.

    Full Review Source: Los Angeles Daily News | comment Comment
    04/16/04
    Bob Strauss
    Bob Strauss
    Los Angeles Daily News

    It has all the passion, frenzy and violence of an Abel Ferrara film -- but without the vision, depth, style or control.

    Full Review Source: Los Angeles Times | comment Comment
    04/15/04
    Kevin Thomas
    Kevin Thomas
    Los Angeles Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The titular precipitation in Lana's Rain is a manifestation of the badness in the world -- but here, badness is pure Lifetime Channel.

    Full Review Source: L.A. Weekly | comment Comment
    04/15/04
    Jon Strickland
    Jon Strickland
    L.A. Weekly

    Low-budget gangster picture.

    Full Review Source: Hollywood Reporter | comment Comment
    04/15/04
    Kirk Honeycutt
    Kirk Honeycutt
    Hollywood Reporter
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    The movie hinges on Orlenko, a Ukrainian model-actress making her American feature debut, and she delivers a sterling performance.

    Full Review Source: Chicago Reader | comment Comment
    03/16/04
    J. R. Jones
    J. R. Jones
    Chicago Reader
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Even as I noted a glitch here and there in the plot, I was aware that the movie itself, and especially the character of Lana, had enlisted my sympathy.

    Full Review Source: Chicago Sun-Times | comment Comment
    02/27/04
    Roger Ebert
    Roger Ebert
    Chicago Sun-Times
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic

    Uses the great recurring American movie theme of immigrants arriving in the big American cities to both good and bad advantage.

    Full Review Source: Chicago Tribune | comment Comment
    02/26/04
    Michael Wilmington
    Michael Wilmington
    Chicago Tribune
    Top Critic Icon Top Critic
     
     
    1 - 10 (sorted by date)
    Text View
    See All

    More DVDs

    Close
    Top Rentals
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    66% 66% Public Enemies
    83% 83% Harry Potter and the H…
    44% 44% Night at the Museum: B…
    75% 75% Julie & Julia
    32% 32% Terminator Salvation

    More Rentals…

    New On DVD This Week
    Tomatometer Percentage Movie
    90% 90% District 9
    86% 86% 500 Days of Summer
    63% 63% Extract
    06% 06% All About Steve
    78% 78% It Might Get Loud

    More New Releases…

    See All

    RT On Current TV

    The Rotten Tomatoes Show on Current TV

    DIRECTV 358 | Comcast 107 | DISH Network 196 | More...

    Learn how you can be part of the show

    More...

    What’s Hot On RT

    Sherlock Holmes

    Sherlock Holmes

    New clips from the detective reboot!

    Iron Man 2

    Iron Man 2

    Watch the brand new trailer now!

    Awards Tour

    Awards Tour

    Keep up with latest nominations and awards!

    RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

    RT on DVD & Blu-Ray

    District 9 & 500 Days of Summer

    Other News

    Close
    • Top Stories
    • Popular
    • Interviews
     
     

    Comments

     
     
    Top Stories
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Danny Trejo Talks Machete, Possible Sequels Source: Collider.com
    11
    • It's Official: Jackass 3-D Coming in 2010 Source: Collider.com
    16
    • Bryan Singer Returning to X-Men for First Class Source: Superhero Hype
    102
    • Mark Strong Talks Kick-Ass, John Carter, and Robin Hood Source: Collider.com
    1
    • How Avatar Happened: The Path to Innovation Source: CinemaBlend.com
    19
    • Rob Marshall Says Pirates 4 Is Still a Maybe Source: ComingSoon.net
    32
    • ET Teases Iron Man 2 Teaser Source: Collider.com
    28
    • Tobey Maguire Refutes Hobbit Rumors Source: Hollywood Reporter
    9
    • Prince of Persia Featurette Posted Source: Yahoo! Movies
    4
    • Trailer Bulletin: Robin Hood Source: ComingSoon.net
    61
    Popular
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Critics Consensus: Avatar Is Certified Fresh
    309
    • Box Office Guru Wrapup: Avatar Soars to #1 Spot
    218
    • Awards Tour 2009: Golden Globe Noms Here!
    145
    • Brittany Murphy: 1977-2009
    99
    • Total Recall: James Cameron Movies
    89
    • Awards Tour 2009: SAG Nominations Are In!
    43
    • Weekly Ketchup: Bryan Singer Teaches X-Men: First Class
    43
    • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
    36
    • RT on DVD & Blu-Ray: District 9 and (500) Days of Summer
    18
    • Friday Harvest: Alice in Wonderland, Sherlock Holmes, and more!
    14
    Interviews
    Headlines Comments
      
    • Five Favorite Films With Peter Jackson
    36
    • Robert Downey Jr. talks Sherlock Holmes & Iron Man 2 - RT Interview
    21
    • Director Ruben Fleischer Talks Zombieland
    2
    • "I Don't Hate Women": Lars von Trier on Antichrist
    17
    • Eric Bana talks Love the Beast - RT Interview
    12
    • Fight Club Sound Designer Reflects on Film's 10th Anniversary
    23
    • James Schamus talks Taking Woodstock - RT Interview
    8
    • John Hurt Talks Harry Potter, Quentin Crisp and Alien - The RT Interview
    15
    • Terry Gilliam Talks Doctor Parnassus
    24
    • Wes Anderson Talks Fantastic Mr. Fox - RT Interview
    9
     
     

    Sponsored Links

    Around The Network

    • Lana's Rain at Rotten Tomatoes
    • Lana's Rain at AskMen

    Fresh Links

    Featured
    MSN's Year in Review
    MSN's Year in Review External Link

    Take a look at MSN's choices for the Top 10 films of 2009.

    Moviefone's Year End Poll
    Moviefone's Year End Poll External Link

    What were your favorites? Least favorites? The funniest and scariest? Moviefone wants to know!

    Tarantino's Characters
    Tarantino's Characters External Link

    Hollywood.com explores why QT's characters resonate so well with audiences.

    Top 10 Movies of 2009
    Top 10 Movies of 2009 External Link

    TIME chimes in with their own list of the best films released this year.

    Top 20 of the Decade
    Top 20 of the Decade External Link

    Click through to see which movies BuzzSugar placed in their Best-of-Decade list!

    Promos
    Follow RT on Twitter
    Follow RT on Twitter External Link

    Get the latest Tomatometer updates on upcoming movies!

     
     
    About| Site Map| Help| RT To Go| Contact Us| Critics Submission| Linking to RT| Licensing| Movie List| Games| Celebs List| Newsletter
    IGN Logo

    IGN.com | GameSpy | Comrade | Arena | FilePlanet | GameSpy Technology
    TeamXbox | Planets | Vaults | VE3D | CheatsCodesGuides | GameStats | GamerMetrics
    AskMen.com | Rotten Tomatoes | Direct2Drive | Green Pixels


    By continuing past this page, and by the continued use of this site, you agree to be bound by and abide by the User Agreement.
    Copyright 1998-2009, IGN Entertainment, Inc. About IGN | Support | Advertise | Privacy Policy | User Agreement | Subscribe to RT's XML feed! IGN RSS Feeds
    IGN's enterprise databases running Oracle, SQL and MySQL are professionally monitored and managed by Pythian Remote DBA
    Certain product data ©1995-present Muze, Inc. For personal use only. All rights reserved.