The Film "Ликвидация"

Stumbled upon by chance - not new (from 2007), but artistically engaging - a 14-episode feature film „Ликвидация", alternating between Russian and Ukrainian. The setting is Odessa, 1946 - that is, shortly after the war. The main storyline follows law enforcement agencies' struggle against organised criminal gangs in Odessa, contraband traders, document forgers and illegal gamblers (since legal gambling could hardly exist in the newly established Soviet state). Running through it all are human relationships in the post-war period, when everyone carries their own life tragedy and the deaths of many loved ones behind them. Friendship, loyalty, love, a man's word of honour, longing for family - these are the emphasised values.

Setting aside the plot, the film aroused genuine interest through entirely different aspects. The main ones: 1) the film frames executed in sepia tone (if one can describe it that way), which lends a sense of antiquity, a vintage charm together with all the film's props; 2) professional acting, where each character type, regardless of whether they are a first-, second- or third-tier performer, is a personality with their own uniqueness, their own charm and their own quirks; 3) the lighting - each frame like a separately well-lit photograph, a little spark playing in the actors' eyes (for me, as a visual person, this is an extraordinarily enjoyable effect).

Someone has taken the trouble to make the film more accessible to the masses and posted all the episodes on YouTube, though I recommend searching for it - it is also available in better quality.