Closeness (film)

Closeness (Теснота) is a 2017 Russian drama film directed by Kantemir Balagov, in his feature film debut. It was selected to compete in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2017 Cannes Film Festival. At Cannes, it won the FIPRESCI Prize in the Un Certain Regard section.

Plot
In 1998 at Nalchik, 24-year-old Ilana (Zhovner) works in her father's garage to help him make ends meet. One evening, her extended family and friends gather to celebrate the engagement of her younger brother David. Later that night, the young couple is kidnapped, and a ransom demand delivered.

Cast

 * Darya Zhovner as Ilana
 * Olga Dragunova as Adina
 * Artem Tsypin as Avi
 * Nazir Zhukov as Zalim
 * Veniamin Katz as David
 * Michail Amburg as Moshe

Reception
Closeness grossed $184,008 worldwide. On review aggregator Rotten Tomatoes, the film holds an approval rating of 88% based on 16 reviews, with an average rating of 7.69/10. On Metacritic, the film has a weighted average score of 53 out of 100 based on 8 critics, indicating "mixed or average reviews". The film was criticized by some critics for its use of documentary video footage of the torture and killing of Russian soldiers from the Tukhchar massacre.