They cannot escape, of course, because to want to leave would be analogous to saying they are not happy in the Soviet Union. To make things even worse, the Golovins themselves are specific targets because of the culture's rampant xenophobia. It seems only a matter of time before they are murdered as well, being branded traitors and Enemies of the People. This is the welcome they should have received in the first place. For a story about a desperate family constantly on the verge of being executed, the movie creates surprisingly little tension.
Characters mostly walk around mechanically rather than purposefully.
Finally, the movie shows surprisingly little about the Communist regime itself, aside from how it directly affects the Golovins. The poor boy is rarely on-screen or even referenced, so we can know nothing about how he deals with the crisis which threatens him. Yet even with this great setup, the drama itself, when played out, usually falls flat. Even Catherine Deneuve, nearly unrecognizable as a makeup-coated stage actress with political connections, can't add quite enough energy to give the production a legitimate sense of urgency.