Well, thats how its ranked according to IMDb, although having seen nearly all of the films above it I would have to disagree.
Maybe,it's because i wasn't really expecting anything special after i had bought the film, that it hit me harder. I had liked Moodyson's previous film, together, but the sleeve did not inspire me at all, the tale of a young Russian girl and how she befriends an 11 year old boy, nothing to get too excited about, there.
Then i unleashed the juggernaut of a film into my DVD player. I wasn't really concentrating for the first few minutes, but then got drawn in by the scene where Lilya, who initially pretended that she wasn't affected by her mother leaving for America, pleads with her not to go. She cries hysterically and does not stop. It is X rated emotion and one of the most incredibly powerful scenes i have seen anywhere.
We then see Lilya's position go from bad to worse. Nearly every scene is touching and has a purpose. The acting is faultless, the character development is amazing. Lilya is humiliated by everyone, her teacher, her peers, the shopkeepers, but always tries to maintain her dignity until it gets eaten away bit by bit. Brilliantly exemplified by her looking for the money that she had thrown into the bin as dirty money.
This film is about betrayal and power. The betrayal of Lilya by her mother, her aunt, her supposed boyfriend and her betrayal of Volodya. It is also about Lilya's fight for power and how badly she fails. When she sells her body for the first time and gains some power we are almost relieved, at least she can buy some necessities. When she becomes a slave we are devastated. It makes the film far more effective not knowing the ending. I didn't see it coming, but like Lilya, I should have. She wants her dreams so badly she remains in denial about the reality of her situation. It shows her faith in humankind is so strong that she is not cynical about the boys motives in taking her to Sweden.
I was completely shell-shocked after seeing this film and i cannot believe people aren't shouting from the rooftops imploring others to see it. Even though i cried for days after seeing this film (i'm not actually an emotional person) i wouldn't classify this as a depressing film. It makes you realize how lucky your life is, and that you must enjoy to the full every moment of freedom that you have.
Bad things happen to good people. The world is unfair. Volodya gets one present in his life, a basketball from Lilya and that gets smashed by his father. Kids in the west get everything and appreciate nothing. There are psychopaths in Broadmoor, who are truly evil, who get hours of psychotherapy but Lilya's spirit lives on forever.
Maybe,it's because i wasn't really expecting anything special after i had bought the film, that it hit me harder. I had liked Moodyson's previous film, together, but the sleeve did not inspire me at all, the tale of a young Russian girl and how she befriends an 11 year old boy, nothing to get too excited about, there.
Then i unleashed the juggernaut of a film into my DVD player. I wasn't really concentrating for the first few minutes, but then got drawn in by the scene where Lilya, who initially pretended that she wasn't affected by her mother leaving for America, pleads with her not to go. She cries hysterically and does not stop. It is X rated emotion and one of the most incredibly powerful scenes i have seen anywhere.
We then see Lilya's position go from bad to worse. Nearly every scene is touching and has a purpose. The acting is faultless, the character development is amazing. Lilya is humiliated by everyone, her teacher, her peers, the shopkeepers, but always tries to maintain her dignity until it gets eaten away bit by bit. Brilliantly exemplified by her looking for the money that she had thrown into the bin as dirty money.
This film is about betrayal and power. The betrayal of Lilya by her mother, her aunt, her supposed boyfriend and her betrayal of Volodya. It is also about Lilya's fight for power and how badly she fails. When she sells her body for the first time and gains some power we are almost relieved, at least she can buy some necessities. When she becomes a slave we are devastated. It makes the film far more effective not knowing the ending. I didn't see it coming, but like Lilya, I should have. She wants her dreams so badly she remains in denial about the reality of her situation. It shows her faith in humankind is so strong that she is not cynical about the boys motives in taking her to Sweden.
I was completely shell-shocked after seeing this film and i cannot believe people aren't shouting from the rooftops imploring others to see it. Even though i cried for days after seeing this film (i'm not actually an emotional person) i wouldn't classify this as a depressing film. It makes you realize how lucky your life is, and that you must enjoy to the full every moment of freedom that you have.
Bad things happen to good people. The world is unfair. Volodya gets one present in his life, a basketball from Lilya and that gets smashed by his father. Kids in the west get everything and appreciate nothing. There are psychopaths in Broadmoor, who are truly evil, who get hours of psychotherapy but Lilya's spirit lives on forever.