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Product Description
Controversial drama from director Lukas Moodysson, about a young girl abandoned by her family. Living in the poverty-stricken former Soviet Union, Lilya (Oksana Akinshina) descends into a spiral of drink, drugs and prostitution, befriending suicidal teenagers and falling further into a dark and dangerous world. When she meets a man who promises to take her to a better life in Sweden, it's the beginning of an even more harrowing journey into degradation.
Product Description
United Kingdom released, PAL/Region 2 DVD: LANGUAGES: Russian ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), Swedish ( Dolby Digital 5.1 ), English ( Subtitles ), WIDESCREEN (1.85:1), SPECIAL FEATURES: Anamorphic Widescreen, Cast/Crew Interview(s), Interactive Menu, Scene Access, Trailer(s), SYNOPSIS: A teenager abandoned by her family slips into a downward spiral of sex and degradation in this frank drama from Sweden. Lilya (Oksana Akinshina) is a 16-year-old girl growing up in poverty in the former Soviet Union. Lilya's mother (Lyubov Agapova) is moving to the United States with her new boyfriend, and Lilya has been told she'll be coming with them. However, at the last minute Lilya is informed she'll be staying behind with her aunt Anna (Liliya Shinkaryova), and she'll be joining her mother later on. Anna immediately takes over the apartment Lilya shared with her mother, and moves her niece into a much smaller (and dirtier) flat several blocks away. For the most part left on her own, Lilya spends much of her time with her best friend, Natasha (Elina Benenson), and comes to the rescue of Volodya (Artiom Bogucharski), a suicidal 14-year-old boy who has been thrown out of his home and has a serious problem with alcohol and drugs. One night at a nightclub, Natasha meets a man who is willing to pay her for sex; when her father finds the money, Natasha claims it belongs to Lilya, and the story soon spreads that Lilya is a prostitute. When Lilya learns that her mother has no intention of bringing her to the United States, she becomes despondent and begins sleeping with men for money. Not long after taking up the sex trade she meets Andrei (Pavel Ponomaryov), who promises her a better and easier life if she'll come to Sweden with him. However, Lilya learns the hard way that there's no truth in Andrei's words as she is subjected to the lowest and mos...Lilya 4-Ever ( Lilya 4 ever ) ( Lilya Forever (Lilya For ever) )
Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
30 of 30 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
An absolutely beautiful, heart-rending film that examines its subject matter with unflinching sensitivity to the vulnerability and cruelty of its protagonist. Lilya is an unruly teenager whose indifference masks acute suffering. Abandoned by her family and subject to the commonplace brutality of adolescent acquaintances, Lilya finds a friend in Volodya, a young boy sleeping rough to escape his father's abuse. The relationship that builds between them is heart-breakingly real, and it is almost unbearable to watch Lilya make her choice between Volodya and the promise of a better life.
This haunting and bleak vision holds out the lesson that, in this abject world into which we are thrown, love, even in its most mundane form, is infinitely precious; without it, life has no value.
The religious aspects of the film would have jarred if not for the age and naivety of the characters, but "Lilya 4 Ever" is nevertheless a brilliantly conceived, superbly acted and utterly unforgettable film.
18 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By Miss Goodall
Format:DVD
This was without a doubt the hardest film I have ever had to watch. I will warn, that this film is not for the quaint at heart. I was left feeling physically sick throughout the violent, evil attacks Lilya had to bear. The directing gave an even further view into what teen prostitution is like. The acting was brilliant and the relationship between Lilya and Volodya was portrayed just as well.
It is scary to think in this day and age, these things happen and children are being neglected and abused in such economically advanced countries.
As I said before, a strong stomach is needed to watch this brilliant yet dark film.
16 of 17 people found the following review helpful
By A Customer
Format:DVD
Moodyson, when asked, about the unremitting bleakness in his film said he saw some redemptive elements, especially in the dream sequences. And when they started filming, their intention was a more upbeat ending. But then the film took on a much darker life of it's own.
With an eye to not spoiling it, I too will resist giving the ending away. Save to say that when you are 11 and 16 what could be seen as simplistic melodrama, regarding religion, and the hereafter, is your only sphere of reality.
As to the film itself, I originally saw it at the cinema with 500 people who left as shell-shocked as me. The film is shot perfectly, brilliantly acted, and with tight un-remitting direction, so the clarity of the narrative, and the dream sequences all build relentlessly to the horrible, and heart breaking conclusion.
This film was easily the best foreign language film in the year it was made, possible of the decade so far. It was largely ignored by Hollywood . But since exploitation and abuse have been part of the furniture, (literally) in tinsel town, since the days of the silent films; this is no surprise. But to say that lord of the rings blah blah whatever part 3, or chicago, were better films, is a sick joke in my opinion. These two amazingly won the best picture oscars in 2003 and 2004!!!
With an eye to not spoiling it, I too will resist giving the ending away. Save to say that when you are 11 and 16 what could be seen as simplistic melodrama, regarding religion, and the hereafter, is your only sphere of reality.
As to the film itself, I originally saw it at the cinema with 500 people who left as shell-shocked as me. The film is shot perfectly, brilliantly acted, and with tight un-remitting direction, so the clarity of the narrative, and the dream sequences all build relentlessly to the horrible, and heart breaking conclusion.
This film was easily the best foreign language film in the year it was made, possible of the decade so far. It was largely ignored by Hollywood . But since exploitation and abuse have been part of the furniture, (literally) in tinsel town, since the days of the silent films; this is no surprise. But to say that lord of the rings blah blah whatever part 3, or chicago, were better films, is a sick joke in my opinion. These two amazingly won the best picture oscars in 2003 and 2004!!!
So nearly a year and half after seeing it last, I remember it like a film I saw yesterday. And I believe, notwithstanding the dvd that I have just ordered, the memory will stay with me for a long time to come.
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4.3 out of 5 stars
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
4.0 out of 5 stars
Great
A thought provoking film that has an excellent depiction of trafficked girls, and the doom they face. Great film production and quality.
Published 2 days ago by Jonas
5.0 out of 5 stars
Stunning...
...I don't think I've ever seen a film that hit me and moved me as much. Stunning realism, stunning actors...to me this perfect film making.I will never forget this film.
Published 6 months ago by Hitch22
5.0 out of 5 stars
Frankie Teardrop
Set in the USSR but could be Rochdale, Burnley, Halifax or a Parisian suburb, as the story is the same. Read more
Published 7 months ago by Dr. Delvis Memphistopheles
5.0 out of 5 stars
Heart wrenching
This is an exceptional movie. Such a powerful story of two souls, looking to find happiness, love, and a decent standard of living, but are denied in an uncaring world. Read more
Published 11 months ago by Creaker
3.0 out of 5 stars
a bleak little film
Dark miserable story about a young girl who seems to be betrayed and abandoned by all around her . This starts as a very moving movie and I thought the kids were all great , but I... Read more
Published 12 months ago by cartoon
5.0 out of 5 stars
The So Human Story....
Here in the U.K., we hear of sex trafficking and consider it not our problem, because we don't directly contribute to it. Read more
Published 13 months ago by Tim Kidner
5.0 out of 5 stars
Powerfully realistic and highly effective film
My Thoughts: I'd been putting off watching this film for a while as I had heard nothing of it until watching "Let The Right One In" which I was told this was on similar grounds. Read more
Published 22 months ago by Dismal Angel
4.0 out of 5 stars
Was impressed
It is a good film, and of course it's based on a true story of a Lithuanian girl who killed herself after spending several years as sexslave in Sweden. Read more
Published 23 months ago by Vladimir Butin
1.0 out of 5 stars
lilya 4 ever
cheap location, cheap cast, crap movie,very predictable.
heres the story,teenage girl is abandoned by her mother,gets sold as a sex slave,not fond of the job,jumps of a... Read more
heres the story,teenage girl is abandoned by her mother,gets sold as a sex slave,not fond of the job,jumps of a... Read more
Published on 28 Feb 2010 by keddycat
2.0 out of 5 stars
Ja nje verju!
I have read all admiring reviews of this film and I have realized that all these people don't speak Russian, that's why they haven't noticed how mediocre the acting is- the... Read more
Published on 22 Dec 2009 by Ekaterina Carlsson
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