ACED Magazine

Synopsis: Eastern Promises weaves a tale of the dark Russian mafia - a mafia different than what we know of in America - things are done in a discreet, quiet, low-key way, covering tracks before tracks are made. This film shows how one factor—finding a diary and figuring out its contents—can set off a chain of events that are all interwoven together and can't seem to stop.

Nikolai (Mortensen) plays a car driver and enforcer of rules for one of the leading mob bosses in Russia. When a midwife finds a diary of a young woman who passed away, leaving her baby behind, the midwife becomes entangled with the mafia before she even realizes what's happening. Eastern Promises unfolds the dilemmas this midwife and Nikolai face in the black and white world of the Russian mafia.

DVD Features:

• Secrets and Stories: See how director David Cronenberg brought the screenplay to life in the dark and forbidding streets of London.
• Marked for Life: Director David Cronenberg reveals the hidden history behind Russian tattoos, as well as their complex symbolism and unique visual storytelling.

Critique:

I was eating some macaroni and cheese when I sat down to watch this movie. Let me tell you right now, don't eat food while you watch this film. Trust me on that one. If you get the least bit squeamish over blood or the cutting of body parts, well, Eastern Promises isn't for the light-hearted.

I was intrigued by the use of tattoos in this film, the symbolism behind them, and the reasons for getting them. Minus a loss in appetite, this was a well put together film, although one probably has to watch it a few times to catch all of the minor nuances that can easily go by undetected. This is a good film to watch, just watch it between meals.

This Reviewer's Rating: 3.5 / 5

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