House Arrest is a 2021 Russian comedy drama film directed by Aleksey German Jr. In June 2021, the film was selected to compete in the Un Certain Regard section at the 2021 Cannes Film Festival.
Contents
Plot
The film follows David (Merab Ninidze), a university professor at a provincial Russian campus, who starts a social media campaign to expose local mayoral corruption. His efforts lead to unintended consequences, as he is placed under house arrest and faces false embezzlement charges. Confined to his cluttered apartment, David grapples with the isolation and mounting pressure of his circumstances, exacerbated by the lack of support from colleagues and hostility from neighbors. His relationship with his critical, chain-smoking mother (Roza Khairullina) provides both solace and tension. As David's situation deteriorates and his water supply is cut off, he faces the harsh realities of holding onto his principles in a repressive society.
Cast
Merab Ninidze as David
Anna Mikhalkova as Anna, a lawyer
Roza Khairullina as Svetlana Valeryevna, David's mother
Anastasiya Melnikova as Katya, ex-wife
Svetlana Khodchenkova as Nadya, a nurse
Aleksandr Pal as an investigator
Aleksandra Bortich as Ira
Reception
Wendy Ide of Screen Daily wrote "The film has a charismatic and textured central character who widens the scope of a picture which rarely strays beyond the confines of a cluttered, claustrophobic apartment".