Two Prosecutors – Review

Cert – 12, Run-time – 1 hour 58 minutes, Director – Sergei Loznitsa

Russia, 1937, a young prosecutor (Alexander Kuznetsov) arrives at a prison to investigate corruption in Stalin’s secret police across the USSR.

Two Prosecutors is a film all about torment. Viewed sternly, it’s a cold, itching drama that draws out its details. Much of the film, in fact, is constructed with a handful of lengthy conversations and monologues, each delving deeper into the corruption of Stalin’s secret police and a spree of forced false confessions.

The camera remains still and targeted throughout the interactions of young prosecutor Kornyev (Alexander Kuznetsov). Examining the faces of the few characters, almost entirely viewing in close-ups – sometimes forced to due to the cramped nature of train compartments, offices and cells. There’s a hollowness to the drab decoration but not the content of the film which is almost fuelled on the fear and dread that Kornyev learns about, particularly through prisoner Stepniak (Aleksandr Filippenko delivering a standout turn which grinds the fear into place in captivating fashion). It’s through Stepniak that Kornyev learns of possible corruption – claims that prisons are being used for murder and torture to allow for control from Stalin loyalists.

While some of the segments that we see can sometimes feel a slight step down when it comes to the thematic weight being dealt with it may only be because of the excellence of some that come before that – such as Filippenko’s monologues, largely confined to one scene when Kuznetsov looks on and asks very little, his face wearing concern. The face of the film is one that’s targeted, taking specific aim; keeping its coldness. There’s a chance of sections to feel stage-like, and while based on a novella of the same name there’s occasional feeling of a play adaptation here, but the closeness provided by the camera in certain spaces steps away from this somewhat. Making for a personal, occasionally haunting and creeping drama that finds the dread and fear of the corruption at hand through simple up-close discussion.

A film of close-up conversations and monologues that captures dread and fear of torture and corruption through some great performances, Two Prosecutors is a great piece of cold drama.