Watch Everybody's Children

Everybody's Children is a heart-wrenching drama from 2008 that explores the tumultuous journey of two young orphans living in contemporary Russia, amidst the fall of the Soviet Union. Directed by the Oscar-nominated director Vitaly Vorobiov, the film takes audiences on an emotional rollercoaster with its gripping narrative and powerful performances by the cast. This raw and brutal portrayal of the harsh reality of life in post-soviet Russia will keep viewers hooked until the very end.

The story of Everybody's Children revolves around two siblings, Andrei and Ivan, who have been abandoned by their mother and are forced to fend for themselves on the streets of a small Russian town. Andrei, the older of the two brothers, is forced to take on the role of parent, while Ivan is vulnerable and constantly in need of protection from the harsh realities of their surroundings. The boys live in an abandoned car on the outskirts of the town and survive by stealing food and begging from the locals.

The real struggle begins when Andrei and Ivan are discovered by the authorities and sent to an overcrowded and under-resourced orphanage, where they face physical and emotional abuse from the adults in charge. The boys are constantly tormented by the older boys in the orphanage, who view them as weak and vulnerable. Andrei, who has always been brave and resilient, is suddenly forced to confront a world that is bigger and stronger than he is, while Ivan is left alone and defenseless.

The film focuses on the bonds of brotherhood and the resilience of the human spirit, highlighting the stark contrast between the innocence of children and the cruelty of adults. The brothers soon learn that the only way they can survive is by depending on each other and building a community of their own. They find allies in the form of other children who have also been abandoned by society and form a tight-knit group that provides them with the sense of belonging that they have always craved.

The performances in Everybody's Children are nothing short of spectacular. The young actors who play Andrei and Ivan, Vanya Shulgin and Denis Moiseenko, respectively, are both incredibly talented and show a depth and range of emotions that is simply breathtaking. The supporting cast, including the actors who play the other children in the orphanage and the adults in charge, are also excellent and add to the film's sense of realism and grittiness.

One of the film's strengths is its use of cinematography to capture the bleakness and despair of the boys' surroundings. The desolate landscape of the Russian countryside is juxtaposed with the harsh realities of life in the orphanage, creating a haunting and powerful visual experience that is both beautiful and disturbing. The film's visual style is complemented by a haunting and evocative score that adds to its emotional impact.

Overall, Everybody's Children is a bleak but powerful drama that will move viewers with its portrayal of the resilience and strength of the human spirit. It is a story about hope, survival, and the incredible power of brotherhood to overcome even the toughest of challenges. Vorobiov's direction, coupled with the outstanding performances by the cast, makes this film an unforgettable cinematic experience that will linger in viewers' memories long after the credits have rolled.

Everybody's Children is a 2008 documentary with a runtime of 51 minutes.