LILYA 4-EVER
Year: 2002
USA: Newmarket Film Group
UK: Metrodome
Cast: Oksana Akinshina, Artiom Bogucharskij, Elina Beninson, Lilia Shinkareva, Pavel Ponomarev, Tomas Neumann, Ljubov Agapova, Tõnu Kark, Anastasia Bedredinova, Nikolai Bentsler, Aleksander Dorosjkevitch, Jevgeni Gurov, Aleksandr Sokolenko, Margo Kostelina, Veronika Kovtun, Jelena Jakovlena, Tamara Solodnikova, Nikolai Kutt, Oleg Rogatchov, Aleksander Okunev, Herardo Kontreras, Madis Kalmet, Bo Christer Hjelte, Sten Erici, Hermie Acereda, Gert Bondesson, Anders Brinning, Johan Edlund, Henryk Gwiazada, Rickard Mattila, Michael Merikan, Jeff Norman, Truls Rosen, Jacob Ryer, Farhad Sina, Johan Åkerblom, Jaanika, Olga, Otto Andersson, Virku Annus, Ljljana Culev, Lidija Cvitanovic, Maria Karlsson, Kajsa Lundberg, Lars-Gunnar Mostrom, Rein Nettan, Åsa Olsson, Jay B Yarnel
Director: Lukas Moodysson
Countries: Denmark / Sweden
Language: Russian (English subtitles)
USA & UK: 109 mins
USA Rated: R for strong sexual content, a rape scene, drug use and language
UK Certificate: 18 contains very strong language and sexual violence
USA Release Date: 18 April 2003 (Limited Release)
UK Release Date: 25 April 2003
Synopsis
16 year-old Lilya (Oksana Akinshina) lives in a poor and dreary suburb somewhere in the former Soviet Union. She dreams of a better life. Her mother has moved to the States with a new man and Lilya is waiting to be sent for. When no letters or money arrive from her mother, it becomes obvious that Lilya has been abandoned.
She's forced to move into a tiny, run-down flat with no electricity or heating. Heartbroken and without money, Lilya's situation becomes desperate. Her only friend is the 11 year-old boy Volodya (Artiom Bogucharskij), who sometimes is allowed to sleep on her sofa. They hang around together and fantasize to make life a little easier.
One day, hope arrives when Lilya falls in love with Andrei (Pavel Ponomarev). He asks her to follow him to Sweden to start a new life. Little Volodya is jealous and suspicious - but Lilya packs her things. Suddenly she's sitting on a plane bound for Sweden not knowing what will happen next.