I wasn't sure what kind of film I was getting into with this. I think it could've easily been some Run of the mill thriller or even romance with certain plot points. Yet it's. Good subtle character study.
This is a different take on the usual coming of age film about a young man named Misha who sleepwalks at night.
He is distant with his parents and clashes with his younger brother who only wants to be accepted and loved by him.
He then meets Dr. Volkov, a renowned psychologist and hypnotherapist. He has quite the admiration from his students and is considered the top therapist of his country.
Misha tells him that he cannot be hypnotized like his other patients. He is always aware of himself 100 percent of the time. This facinates the Dr and he takes him on as a sort of apprentice instead.
Misha also bonds with a young lady who is also a patient and struggling with past trauma.
Already, we can see that Volkov has no problem pushing the boundaries of his therapy and will do anything in the name of his work to get results, ethics be dammed. As he sits in on the Dr's patients who seemingly revert to childlike states under his directions.
Is he helping them, or is just doing it for control and notoriety? The Dr is the type who loves to hear himself talk and you can see the small cracks with his seemingly cool demeanor. He comes off as quite aggressive too.
The film explores the concept of perception vs reality. Is what we see real to us? What is our subconscious hiding and Can we really control it?
One aspect of the film I found interesting was that we never truly see how the Dr hypnotizes him. He demonstrates his method in front of him the first time . But is that the beginning of their interactions? What does he say to get him to break his habit, to improve relations with his family? The film never shows this and that's what I like. It doesn't spell out everything. There are also moments where Misha himself uses the method on his younger brother and possibly his parents.
Near the end. It is revealed the young lady is a mental seed of sorts planed by Volkov. At first he tries to downplay it by saying she killed herself. Then he tells him she's not real. Misha finally starts to realize that the good Dr does not have anyones best interest at heart.
The best is at the end where Misha walks into his classroom and challenges him once and for all on his supposed theories and ideals. Finally the students wake up and see he's nothing more than a charlatan. His students are the experiment. And he's doing it to satisfy his ego.
There are many types like this in the medical field. It's a scary thought.
Overall. I was impressed with the movie and it's worth a re watch as I think there are details I didn't catch.
I found the acting realistic and grounded.
Maksim Sukhanov Commands the screen as the sinister Volkov.
Sergey Giro makes his debut as the lead. He does a wonderful job being the repressed teen. Although the moment where he breaks down alone wasn't that strong . He finds his energy much better near the finale with confronting the good Dr.
I hope he appears in more films.
I'd suggest this. Just be patient though. It's pace is slow. But not too slow imo.
Reviewer below me is ignorant and doesn't understand different people or cultures. There's a whole wide world of cinema out there. Explore it!
This is a different take on the usual coming of age film about a young man named Misha who sleepwalks at night.
He is distant with his parents and clashes with his younger brother who only wants to be accepted and loved by him.
He then meets Dr. Volkov, a renowned psychologist and hypnotherapist. He has quite the admiration from his students and is considered the top therapist of his country.
Misha tells him that he cannot be hypnotized like his other patients. He is always aware of himself 100 percent of the time. This facinates the Dr and he takes him on as a sort of apprentice instead.
Misha also bonds with a young lady who is also a patient and struggling with past trauma.
Already, we can see that Volkov has no problem pushing the boundaries of his therapy and will do anything in the name of his work to get results, ethics be dammed. As he sits in on the Dr's patients who seemingly revert to childlike states under his directions.
Is he helping them, or is just doing it for control and notoriety? The Dr is the type who loves to hear himself talk and you can see the small cracks with his seemingly cool demeanor. He comes off as quite aggressive too.
The film explores the concept of perception vs reality. Is what we see real to us? What is our subconscious hiding and Can we really control it?
One aspect of the film I found interesting was that we never truly see how the Dr hypnotizes him. He demonstrates his method in front of him the first time . But is that the beginning of their interactions? What does he say to get him to break his habit, to improve relations with his family? The film never shows this and that's what I like. It doesn't spell out everything. There are also moments where Misha himself uses the method on his younger brother and possibly his parents.
Near the end. It is revealed the young lady is a mental seed of sorts planed by Volkov. At first he tries to downplay it by saying she killed herself. Then he tells him she's not real. Misha finally starts to realize that the good Dr does not have anyones best interest at heart.
The best is at the end where Misha walks into his classroom and challenges him once and for all on his supposed theories and ideals. Finally the students wake up and see he's nothing more than a charlatan. His students are the experiment. And he's doing it to satisfy his ego.
There are many types like this in the medical field. It's a scary thought.
Overall. I was impressed with the movie and it's worth a re watch as I think there are details I didn't catch.
I found the acting realistic and grounded.
Maksim Sukhanov Commands the screen as the sinister Volkov.
Sergey Giro makes his debut as the lead. He does a wonderful job being the repressed teen. Although the moment where he breaks down alone wasn't that strong . He finds his energy much better near the finale with confronting the good Dr.
I hope he appears in more films.
I'd suggest this. Just be patient though. It's pace is slow. But not too slow imo.
Reviewer below me is ignorant and doesn't understand different people or cultures. There's a whole wide world of cinema out there. Explore it!
