人生就像烟火一样虽然漂亮却瞬间消失令人伤感，但是就算瞬间也好，我希望自己能够绽放，然后默默的凋谢。——《银魂》LikeFritzLang,DavidFincherorBongJoonHobeforehim,talenteddebutfilmmakerLadoKvataniyausestheconceptofpolicedetectivevsserialkillerforanexcitinglystylised,macabreandhauntingnarrative,thatultimatelyrevolvesaroundtheidentityofanerainthiscase,thelate1980sSovietUnion.WithGlasnostandtheendofcommunistrule,theWestalsolearnedofthe(unsurprising)factthattherewereserialkillersinRussiatoo–themostnotoriouscaseprobablythatofAndreiChikatilo,nicknamedtheRostovRipper,ortheRussianHannibalLecter. Basedontheseandmanyothersources,KvataniyaandscreenwriterOlgaGorodetskayaconstructedanimmersivepsychologicalpuzzle,jumpingbackandforthintime,torevealevernew-possiblemotivesfortheactionsofalltheprotagonists.Itallstartsin1990,whenDetectiveIssaDavydoviscelebratinghispromotionandreceivesacall,reportingacrimethatlookspreciselyliketheonesoftheserialkillerthathefamouslycapturedsomeyearsbefore...