Aleksej Balabanov

Russian film director known for stark, often brutal depictions of late Soviet and post-Soviet life.

Directed Cargo 200; known for bleak, violent portrayals of social collapse in Russia. Died in 2013.

The available review analyzes Cargo 200 as a ruthless, icy thriller that interrogates the end of the Soviet Union. It emphasizes graphic psychological violence, bleak mise-en-scène and prophetic social commentary.

For:Fans of hard-edged cinema, students of post-Soviet history, arthouse audiences