
The Saratov Approach
2013, Drama/Mystery and thriller, 1h 47m
5 Reviews 1,000+ RatingsYou might also like
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Movie Info
Cast & Crew
Tuttle
Propst
Sergei
Nikolai
Senator Smith

Agent Ross
Critic Reviews for The Saratov Approach
All Critics (5) | Top Critics (2) | Fresh (3) | Rotten (2)
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In so many ways the film would be more interesting if it were more ambitious, but on its own terms it is surprisingly strong.
January 30, 2014 | Rating: 2.5/5 | Full Review… -
Uneven acting, some trite dialogue and several overplayed emotional beats flatten instead of round out the storytelling here.
January 9, 2014 | Full Review… -
The final result is suspenseful, faith-promoting and very entertaining.
November 30, 2017 | Full Review… -
There's not as much suspense as the premise suggests, thanks to a bloated middle section that's more concerned with religious reflection than practical negotiation.
January 31, 2014 | Full Review… -
A riveting tale that affirms the faith of the already converted without insulting the intelligence of the skeptic who primarily wants a high-caliber movie.
October 25, 2013 | Rating: B | Full Review…
Audience Reviews for The Saratov Approach
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Dec 31, 2015Might have a bit too much of a religious slant for some folks, but I still found the true life story of Mormon Missionaries kidnapped in Russia to be compelling, thrilling and touching.Anthony V Super Reviewer
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Jul 04, 2014This dramatic thriller was all about religion, and if you are a non-believer, simply skip it! Written and directed by Garrett Batty it stars Corbin Allred, Maclain Nelson, Nikita Bogolyubov and Alex Veadov. The movie is about the 1998 kidnapping of the two Mormon missionaries, Andrew Lee Propst and Travis Robert Tuttle in Saratov, Russia. The kidnappers wanted US$300,000 ransom from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, but nobody wanted to pay the ransom for different reasons. For five days the two missionaries were handcuffed and held captive in a small room. When no ransom materialized, the men were driven to a field and released. Doesn't sound too exciting, especially when we all know the outcome of the story... but, there was suspense in the movie, excitement, and very believable acts and results of the faith of the young men. At the time, this event was a significant international incident, but the director wisely chooses to focus its time on the missionaries and their captors. Some blamed a limited budget for it, but the important story really is what is happening within that relationship where they both slowly make their way through a barrage of emotions, confronting fears of their captors and their own mortality, and slowly coming to understand the role their faith will play in their predicament. Please, do not dismiss this movie because it falls into the category of Mormon cinema, and the well-tread subcategory of missionary movies that is so prominent within it. Check it out and you will see that director Garrett Batty's effort is very solid. I didn't like the hand-held camera work and the intense original soundtrack, but the locals from The Salt Lake Tribune praised the film. Some of the scenes were not very impressive, they were executed rather like a routine, but they are countered by most of the emotional scenes of Allred and Nelson re-creating those days of captivity. Not a bad viewing!Panta O Super Reviewer
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