Perspective is key

Rating: 10/10 (14 March 2016)

This movie is entirely a depiction of the Stalin-era from the inside and all the professional reviews I read miss this, which is the very point of the film. It is banned in Russia for a reason... The movie is criticized because the investigation is out of place. OF COURSE IT IS. The film-makers just used it as a "cover-up" so to say. It probably would have been too much on the screen, and they probably wouldn't have gotten the financial backing if they make a movie only showing the cruelties of the dictatorship.
Good cast, the role suits Tom Hardy well, he puts in a great performance, and so does the rest of the cast.
This movie is an exceptional view of the 1950 Russia, and it's a unique work because not many movies cover this subject. I reckon people tend to miss the point because they never experienced any of the soviet system, and that fact makes you see things very different.
I recommend for everyone to see, because it really shows what life was like back then, unimaginable. I saw other reviews on IMDb all rating 10, that tells you a lot. Great movie, covering a rare subject, and it's spot on with what it wants you to see.
10/10