Captured by Chechen rebels, a British actor is released from captivity only so he can raise the ransom demanded for his fiancée.
But red tape, Government policy and indifferent bureaucrats thwart his efforts and, with the clock ticking, he heads back to Russia, hooks up with a cynical Siberian soldier with whom he was originally held and persuades him to return into enemy territory on an armed rescue mission.
Striving at times for a documentary depiction of the horrors of war (beheadings for the internet, graphic deaths, the rape of a leading character), director Alexei Balabanov bolts on big chunks of Boys' Own adventure and Rambo-style action with mixed results.
It's undoubtedly highly watchable but also feels very much like anti-Islamic, anti-Chechen propaganda.
One major saving grace is Sergie Bodrov Jr, whose performance as the pragmatic Russian is easily the best thing here.
But red tape, Government policy and indifferent bureaucrats thwart his efforts and, with the clock ticking, he heads back to Russia, hooks up with a cynical Siberian soldier with whom he was originally held and persuades him to return into enemy territory on an armed rescue mission.
Striving at times for a documentary depiction of the horrors of war (beheadings for the internet, graphic deaths, the rape of a leading character), director Alexei Balabanov bolts on big chunks of Boys' Own adventure and Rambo-style action with mixed results.
It's undoubtedly highly watchable but also feels very much like anti-Islamic, anti-Chechen propaganda.
One major saving grace is Sergie Bodrov Jr, whose performance as the pragmatic Russian is easily the best thing here.