Once In The Desert

2022 2h 1m RU

👍

7.0

SOLID

★7.0TMDB · 29

WarDrama

Synopsis

Spoiler shield

The films follows a Syrian War Explosive Ordnance Disposal team who are targeted by ISIS militants while they prepare the recently liberated historic site of Palmyra to hold a symbolic concert of the Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra. The peacekeeping event can only be held in Palmyra that has been severely damaged by the terrorists only if the ancient city and the roads leading to it are defused. The EOD team clears the way one kilometer at a time. But the closer they get to the center of Palmyra, the more destructive the explosives. Tension grows between the young team Captain and the most experienced of the EOD experts. And yet, despite their differences, when the team falls into an ambush and the Captain goes missing, it’s the experienced sapper that sets out to search for him.

“Some stories are better left unspoiled.”

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Cast

Aleksandr Robak
Pavel Chinaryov
Aleksandr Metelkin
Ekaterina Nesterova
Igor Gordin
Polina Pushkaruk
Vitaliya Kornienko
Anna Potebnya

Credits

Behind the camera

Director: Andrey Kravchuk
Writers: Arif Aliev
Languages: Russian, Arabic
Countries: Russia

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 4 years ago.

MoodPlayr · trivia#01

2 / 8

WORLD

Did you know

Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Russian, Arabic.

MoodPlayr · trivia#02

3 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

Directed by Andrey Kravchuk, shot by Morad Abdel-Fattakh. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.

MoodPlayr · trivia#03

4 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#04

5 / 8

DIRECTOR

Did you know

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

MoodPlayr · trivia#05

6 / 8

CAST

Did you know

Aleksandr Robak and Pavel Chinaryov and Aleksandr Metelkin carry the top of the cast.

MoodPlayr · trivia#06

7 / 8

WILD

Did you know

IMDB entry: tt16161492 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.

MoodPlayr · trivia#07

8 / 8

WILD

Did you know

Only 29 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

MoodPlayr · trivia#08

Cinephile deep dive

The take

Andrey Kravchuk directs. Morad Abdel-Fattakh behind the camera. Kuzma Bodrov scores. Alexandr Koshelev cuts. Produced in Russia. Dialogue in Russian, Arabic.

Trivia

Things worth knowing

1Released 4 years ago.
2Dialogue crosses 2 languages: Russian, Arabic.
3Directed by Andrey Kravchuk, shot by Morad Abdel-Fattakh. Note their partnership — DPs and directors often return to each other across a career.
4Original score by Kuzma Bodrov. Worth a dedicated listen after — most great films lose half their impact without the score.
5Editor Alexandr Koshelev shaped the rhythm. On an edit-heavy film, the editor does more to control your pulse than the director.
6Aleksandr Robak and Pavel Chinaryov and Aleksandr Metelkin carry the top of the cast.
7IMDB entry: tt16161492 — still the authoritative cross-reference for credits and trivia.
8Only 29 TMDB ratings — you're getting ahead of the curve on this one.

The technical file

Cinematography: Morad Abdel-Fattakh
Original score: Kuzma Bodrov
Editing: Alexandr Koshelev
Production design: Aleksandr Zagoskin
Costume design: Tatyana Patrakhaltseva
Runtime: 121 min · 2h 1m
Status: Released
Original language: RU
Certification (US): 12
IMDB: Once In The Desert (2022)

Also by

Andrey Kravchuk

Community reviews

What people are saying

MovieGuys2023-01-17
★ 8/10
Once in the Desert, like so many Russian war films, takes a down to earth glimpse at the awfulness of war. This film does not glorify war, it does not glamorise it.Certainly, sacrifice is seen as heroic but in a very modest sense. In terms of storytelling, this is a solid film but it does feel a little loose in the middle. That said, it bring the threads together, in a way that makes sense and is, in its own way, rather poignant and sad. Special effects and cinematography are outstanding.The full horror and effects of explosions, are brutally articulated. Acting is low key and characters are very believable. In summary, a war film with what is really an anti war message. One that hopes for an end to conflict and renewed peace. Its sad, poignant and should give anyone who glorifies war, pause for thought.

Production companies