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The Student is a Russian drama film that was released in 2016. Directed by Kirill Serebrennikov, the movie stars Pyotr Skvortsov, Viktoriya Isakova, and Yuliya Aug in lead roles. The story focuses on a high school student named Venya, played by Pyotr Skvortsov, who becomes increasingly religious and radicalized after discovering the Bible. He begins to interpret the teachings of the scripture in his own way and starts to challenge his teachers and classmates with his opinions.

As the movie progresses, Venya’s behavior becomes more erratic and his opinions more extreme. He challenges his biology teacher on evolution, believing it to be against God’s will. He also starts to question the legitimacy of women’s rights, believing them to be against God's plan. At one point, he even convinces a classmate to join him in a violent protest against a fellow student who he believes is gay.

As the tension builds, Venya becomes more assertive in spreading his beliefs and starts to alienate his friends and family. His mother, played by Viktoriya Isakova, becomes increasingly concerned about his behavior and tries to intervene. However, Venya is convinced he is doing God's work and refuses to listen to anyone who disagrees with him.

The Student is a thought-provoking movie that explores the themes of religion, extremism, and the role of education in shaping young minds. The film is a commentary on the dangers of blind faith and the importance of critical thinking. It highlights the need for educators and parents to be vigilant in guiding young people towards a balanced and well-informed worldview.

The performances in the film are excellent, particularly that of Pyotr Skvortsov, who effectively portrays the manipulative and self-righteous character of Venya. The supporting cast also delivers strong performances, adding depth to the story and helping to create a realistic portrayal of the challenges faced by modern educators.

The cinematography is also noteworthy, with the use of muted and desaturated colors adding to the sense of unease and tension that permeates the film. The director, Kirill Serebrennikov, creates a claustrophobic atmosphere by focusing the camera on the student’s faces, capturing the intensity of their emotions and reactions.

Overall, The Student is a compelling and thought-provoking film that will leave audiences thinking about the issues it raises long after the credits have rolled. It is a reminder of the dangers of extremism and the importance of education in creating informed and balanced individuals.

The Student is a 2017 drama with a runtime of 1 hour and 30 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 6.9 and a MetaScore of 76.