Eastern Boys

2013 2h 8m FR

👍

6.7

SOLID

★6.7TMDB · 132

Drama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

Arriving from all over the Eastern Bloc, the men who loiter around the Gare du Nord train station in Paris are scraping by however they can, forming gangs for support and protection, ever fearful of being caught by the police and deported. When the middle-aged, bourgeois Daniel approaches a boyishly handsome Ukrainian who calls himself Marek for a date, he learns the young man is willing to do anything for some cash.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Olivier Rabourdin
Daniel Arthuis
Kirill Emelyanov
Marek / Rouslan Guerasiev
Daniil Vorobyov
Boss (as Daniil Vorobyev)
Edéa Darcque
Chelsea
Camila Chanirova
Camila
Bislan Yakhiaev
Bislan
Mohamed Doukouzov
Mohamed
Aitor Bourgade
Guillaume

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Robin Campillo
Writers: Robin Campillo, Gilles Marchand
Languages: English, French, Russian
Countries: France

Want more? Switch to Cinephile mode in the header for DP, composer, budget, box office, production companies, keywords, and release history.

Did you know?

Fun facts 🍿

1 / 8

ERA

Did you know

Released 13 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, French, Russian.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

RUNTIME

Did you know

Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Robin Campillo, shot by Jeanne Lapoirie. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Original score by Arnaud Rebotini. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Editor Robin Campillo shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Olivier Rabourdin and Kirill Emelyanov and Daniil Vorobyov carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt2991092 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Robin Campillo directs. Jeanne Lapoirie behind the camera. Arnaud Rebotini scores. Robin Campillo cuts. Produced in France. Dialogue in English, French, Russian.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 13 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 3 languages: English, French, Russian.
3Lean credit list — fewer than 30 people officially credited.
4Directed by Robin Campillo, shot by Jeanne Lapoirie. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
5Original score by Arnaud Rebotini. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
6Editor Robin Campillo shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
7Olivier Rabourdin and Kirill Emelyanov and Daniil Vorobyov carry the top of the cast.
8IMDB entry: tt2991092 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

The technical file

Cinematography: Jeanne Lapoirie
Original score: Arnaud Rebotini
Editing: Robin Campillo
Costume design: Isabelle Pannetier
Runtime: 128 min · 2h 8m
Aspect ratio (typical): 1.37:1 (Academy)
Status: Released
Box office: $164,290
Original language: FR
IMDB: Eastern Boys (2013)

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Robin Campillo

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Community reviews

What people are saying

CinemaSerf2023-01-06
★ 6/10
"Daniel" (Olivier Rabourdin) is a successful gent who cruises the mall and picks up the handsome young "Marek" (Kirill Emelyanov). Rather unrealistically, I thought, he gives him his address and next day - equally unsuprisingly, he has a few unexpected visitors who completely implausibly clear out his house around him after have drank his booze and eaten his food. At this point I was ready to turn this off! I didn't though, and I am glad. Next day, "Daniel" answers the door to the young rent boy - alone, this time - and over the remaining course of the film we follow the two as they begin to bond. The former man realises that his new toy-boy is, at heart, a decent lad who has moved from desperate circumstances in the Ukraine and fallen into bad company in an hostel dominated by the "boss" (Daniil Vorobyov). There is a degree of chemistry between the two here, and we do - after that rather ropey start - begin to feel just a little invested in the youngster as his character develops and his personality and integrity are encouraged by an older man who initially just wanted sex, but who quickly realises that more could be on offer - for both of them, here. It takes quite a swipe at immigration policies, of bullying and of crime whilst offering us performances that emit just the slightest glimmer of hope and aspiration. It's far, far too long - and Robin Campillo really ought to have been far more savage with the digital razor blade at the start, but once it's up and running it develops an impetus to it that makes it engaging to watch.

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