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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 most degrading levels of the sex-...Lilya 4-Ever ( Lilya 4 ever ) ( Lilya Forever (Lilya For ever) )
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
27 of 27 people found the following review helpful
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.
15 of 15 people found the following review helpful
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.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
Format:DVD
It's true - to follow Together with this film is a radical shift! This is beside the point of course, as Lilya-4-Ever stands gloriously high on its own merits. It's a distressing film, make no mistake - the sex-slave trade is a tough topic - and it's handled so movingly yet so soberly. Fascinating, beautiful, insightful - just brilliant modern European film-making.
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Most Recent Customer Reviews
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 17 days ago by cartoon
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 1 month ago by Tim Kidner
Loved it
I had heard the words bleak, depressing and (insert any other hopeless word) used to describe this film which made me want to watch it. I got more than I expected. Read more
Published 10 months ago by SmC
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 10 months ago by Dismal Angel
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 11 months ago by Vladimir Butin
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
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
Dark, Light, Faith and Hope. Important relevant Cinema
Very real portrayal of a reality that it is hard for any civilised human being to imagine. Excellent performances not just by the main actress but also by her young male friend,... Read more
Published on 26 Aug 2009 by david ruane
OH MY WORD...
This film is just amazing. Very silent, very real and very dark. I do like world cinema and films that uncover covered topics, that takes us through situations that we may only... Read more
Published on 1 Aug 2008 by Amanda J. Knight
ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT FILMS OF ALL TIME
I don't quite understand why the BBFC gave an 18 Certificate. Every girl and young woman should see this movie. Read more
Published on 18 July 2008 by Sick-o
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