Aleksandra

Critics Consensus

At once ethereal and tangible, Aleksandr Sokurov's humane Chechen War drama features a spectacular turn by opera star Galina Vishnevskay.

88%

TOMATOMETER

Total Count: 59

69%

Audience Score

User Ratings: 1,333

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Movie Info

Elderly Aleksandra (Galina Vishnevskaya) visits her Russian soldier grandson, Denis (Vasily Shevtsov), at the Chechen war front, providing comfort as she tours his army base. While there, Aleksandra surprises everyone by climbing into an armored vehicle and brandishing a Kalashnikov rifle. Afterward, venturing outside, she meets a Chechen woman in town who bemoans the number of occupying troops, then has other adventures. All the while, Denis ponders the reason for her unexpected appearance.
  • Genre:
    drama
  • Original Language:
    Russian
  • Director:
    Aleksandr Sokurov
  • Producer:
    Laurent Danielou
  • Release Date (Theaters):
     limited
  • Release Date (Streaming):
  • Runtime:

Cast & Crew

Galina Vishnevskaya
Alexandra
Vasily Shevtsov
Denis
Raisa Gichaeva
Malika
Aleksandr Sokurov
Director
Aleksandr Sokurov
Writer
Laurent Danielou
Producer

News & Interviews for Alexandra

Toronto Film Fest, Day 2: Reviews of Rendition and Alexandra
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Critic Reviews for Alexandra

All Critics (59) | Top Critics (24) | Fresh (52) | Rotten (7)

View All Critic Reviews (59)

Audience Reviews for Alexandra

  • Feb 17, 2015
    Sokurov was a genius in his pieces on the Hermitage and the Japanese emperor. Here he takes us on a slow journey to prove that the Russians shouldn't be in Grozny. For once the master storytelling seems unable to make the compelling case.
    John B Super Reviewer
  • Apr 14, 2008
    Tender, haunting film about an elderly Russian woman who sets off to visit her soldier grandson in his military camp in Chechnya, and becomes a surrogate grandmother to all the soldiers there. A moving look at the Chechen conflict through the eyes of an indominatable woman, and of the clash of old and new, and of two cultures that are supposed to be at war. A poignant and powerful cry for peace in a world of pointless conflict.
    Matthew L Super Reviewer
  • Apr 07, 2008
    [font=Century Gothic]Previously with "Russian Ark," Alexander Sokurov had given a cinematic tour of the Hermitage that served as a lesson on Russian history. With his latest film, "Alexandra," Sokurov again gives a guided tour, this time of an army base in occupied territory, seen through the eyes of Alexandra(Galina Vishnevskaya), who is visiting her grandson(Vasily Shevtsov), a captain in the army. As she wanders through the army camp, she is shocked at the state of the soldiers. On the one hand, warfare is nothing new to Russia.(Assuming she is at least 80, then she must remember World War II. There is a quick flashback to reinforce this notion...) But what may separate this conflict(Probably Chechnya...) is that it is fought so close to home against an enemy that while fighting for independence, many consider still part of the mother country. In the end, this is a touching call for peace and for the soldiers to return home safety(All of the characters suffer from loneliness to one degree or another.) while rejecting the comic possibilities of the premise by filming in faded color.(Think about it this way. How many soldiers or officers would not become a laughingstock if their grandmother came to visit?)[/font]
    Walter M Super Reviewer
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