Click to read the article
Last Resort (2001)
Rated: Not Rated
Theatrical Release: Feb 23, 2001 Limited
Synopsis: Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski, LAST RESORT tells the story of a young Russian woman who travels to an unfamiliar country to reunite with her fiancé, but instead finds herself in the midst of a waking nightmare. When Tanya (Dina Korzun) lands in England along with her 10-year-old son, Artiom... Directed by Pawel Pawlikowski, LAST RESORT tells the story of a young Russian woman who travels to an unfamiliar country to reunite with her fiancé, but instead finds herself in the midst of a waking nightmare. When Tanya (Dina Korzun) lands in England along with her 10-year-old son, Artiom (Artiom Strelnikov), she is crushed to discover that her soon-to-be-husband is nowhere to be found. Confused and ignorant, she naively asks the government for asylum and becomes a refugee in a dead-end coastal resort that is full of bewildered immigrants like herself. Unfortunately, by the time she realizes that she's made a mistake, bureaucratic paperwork has already ensured that she must stay locked inside the walls of the barren dumping grounds for an indefinite period. Struggling to make ends meet, Tanya befriends a charming arcade manager, Alfie (Paddy Considine), while Artiom learns the ins and outs of vandalism. When it finally becomes clear to Tanya that she is only setting herself up for another heartbreak, she is forced to make a difficult decision that will affect the lives of everyone involved. Pawlikowski's bittersweet, inspiring love story, which blends documentary techniques with a dreamlike atmosphere, features a mesmerizing performance from the luminous Korzun. [More]
Genre: Dramas
Starring: Dina Korzun, Artiom Strelnikov, Paddy Considine, Lindsay Honey, Perry Benson
Screenwriter: Paul Pawlikowski
Producer: Ruth Caleb
Composer: Max de Wardener, Rowan Olivier
Reviews
Pawlikowski and his cast have been honoured for this film at festivals across the continent, the greatest award for them would be for you to watch and think.
A tragic but quite educational tour of the Western countries' refugee process.
An unabashed, if subdued ode to star-crossed lovers everywhere.
One of the few films to get at the ways in which single mothers and their sons alternate being authority figures.
What was missing for me was a story that was engaging or interesting.
This quiet film gains its power from small moments and unforced, convincing performances.
"Last Resort" does not have the feel of a fictional piece, but instead appears to be unfolding as the events occur.
Writer/director Pawel Pawlikowski strikes a wonderful balance between pathos and tenderness.
Related Forums
by: Webmaster www.billyelliotmovie.com 6/15/01


Top Critic