Larisa Sadilova’s probing drama highlights small-town Russian culture through an opaque lens.
This review is part of our coverage of the 2019 Cannes Film Festival.
It would be easy to say the stresses of Once In Trubchevsk are specific to its title village, but for the most part, Larisa Sadilova doesn’t see it that way. It isn’t until the last five minutes of her sixth feature that culture-specific iconography floats into center stage. Even then, it’s largely contained to women dancing in traditional Russian garb that, for all its unmistakable origins, is much more emblematic of any small town itself.
What precedes that is any family drama that’s much more kitchen sink than any specific culture could pin it down to. The well-oiled machinery of making a bed, of the head of one family member lying down as the hands of another take the sheets away. The act of forming a home in a house where a woman was born 83 years ago. The cyclicality of starting anew, even when the new option is no different from the last.
None of these are new concepts, not by a long shot. They aren’t even as thought-provoking as they are engaging in the moment with just enough flavor to strike a chord. Yet this story of a driver on the market for a new family has a tenderness to it not too often seen, and truthfully, its modus operandi was a bit lost on me as I sat in the theater for it six and a half hours ago. That M.O. is using its conflict as, at most, a meager catalyst for the drama, but Sadilova mostly uses it more as wallpaper.
It’s a generally opaque decision for a film that pays just as much attention to the on-set humidity as its central family’s arc, but is it unwarranted? No, not entirely, at least not in the way that Sadilova depicts family life as a machine that needn’t much fixing. Domestic archetypes are in full force here but stripped of any real staying power. The father (Egor Barinov), the mother (Kristi Schneider), and the son are of token quality, so much so that when the former begins to engage another woman in hopes of a romantic reprisal, the women of the film are forced into being interchangeable.
Some parts feel like a tableau; some feel truncated.
But that isn’t to say they are interchangeable: that’s far from the truth. Once In Trubchevsk never gets too close to any of its characters, and Sadilova gravitates closest to her patriarch. When the central conflict—or the closest thing to it—comes to a head, it’s only the women who flirt with, but not necessarily get, any real catharsis. The men of the film don’t get any such release, but that’s because they don’t want it. While Dad stays on the prowl for anything new and Son seems to grow in suspended animation, the repetition grows just as synchronized as taking off the old bed sheets and plopping down onto the mattress.
One could make the argument that the writer/director is playing into gender stereotypes here. That, however, would require a sense of a beginning and a sense of an ending. Her film is too far in a chicken-or-the-egg sphere for such criticisms to hold much weight, and even if some of her scenes can feel too far away even at arm’s length, there’s a sufficient amount of purpose here.
It would have been more resonant had its cultural specificities played a bigger role towards the end, however, as such touches run parallel to the drama instead of perpendicular to it. Some parts feel like a tableau; some feel truncated. Then there’s the underlying sense that most of this has been said before in films and decades past. But Sadilova sees what she wants to see, and whether the audience likes it or not, they’ll probably see something similar.
Once in Trubchevsk Trailer:
Read next: The Spool's Best New Releases
Streaming guides
The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
The praises of live TV streaming services don’t need to be further sung. By now, we all know that compared to clunky, commitment-heavy cable, live TV is cheaper and much easier to manage. But just in case you’re still on the fence about jumping over to the other side, or if you’re just unhappy with ... The Best Live TV Streaming Services With Free Trial
How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
Season 3 of the hotly anticipated Power spin-off, Power Book III: Raising Kanan, is arriving on Starz soon, so you know what that means: it’s the ’90s again in The Southside, and we’re back with the Thomas family as they navigate the ins and outs of the criminal underworld they’re helping build. Mekai Curtis is ... How to Watch Power Book III: Raising Kanan Season 3
How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Ladies and gentlemen, we’re so back! To celebrate Doctor Who’s 60th anniversary, the BBC is producing a three-episode special starring none other than the Tenth/Fourteenth Doctor himself, David Tennant. And to the supreme delight of fans (that would be me, dear reader), the Doctor will be joined by old-time companion Donna Noble (Catherine Tate) and ... How to Watch Doctor Who: 60th Anniversary Specials
Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
For whatever reason, The Hunger Games series isn’t available in the same countries around the world. You’ll find the first and second (aka the best) installments in Hong Kong, for instance, but not the third and fourth. It’s a frustrating dilemma, especially if you don’t even have a single entry in your region, which is ... Which Netflix Country Has Each Movie of The Hunger Games?
How to watch Lost Cities Revealed with Albert Lin Season 2
After a years-long hiatus, scientist and explorer Albert Lin is coming back to National Geographic with a fresh new season of Lost Cities, renamed “Lost Cities Revealed.” In the past, Lin, who is probably the closest we’ll ever get to a real-life Indiana Jones, has traveled everywhere from the ancient Knights Templar in Israel to ... How to watch Lost Cities Revealed with Albert Lin Season 2
How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
To date, Paramount Network has only two original shows on air right now: Yellowstone and Bar Rescue. The network seems to have its hands full with on-demand streaming service Paramount+, which is constantly stacked with a fresh supply of new shows. But Yellowstone and Bar Rescue are so sturdy and expansive that the network doesn’t ... How to Watch Paramount Network With a Free Trial
How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
Previously “Women’s Entertainment,” We TV has since rebranded to accurately reflect its name and be a more inclusive lifestyle channel. It’s home to addictive reality gems like Bold and Bougie, Bridezillas, Marriage Boot Camp, and The Untold Stories of Hip Hop. And when it’s not airing original titles, it has on syndicated shows like 9-1-1, ... How to Watch WE TV With a Free Trial
How to Watch FX With a Free Trial
You’d be hard-pressed to find a bad show airing on FX. The channel has made a name for itself as a bastion of high-brow TV, along with HBO and AMC. It’s produced shows like Atlanta, Fargo, The Americans, Archer, and more recently, Shogun. But because it’s owned by Disney, it still airs several blockbusters in ... How to Watch FX With a Free Trial
How to Watch A&E With A Free Trial
If you’re a fan of true crime and insider docu-shows like The First 48 and Court Cam, then you’re probably already familiar with A&E. The cable channel is home to other reality TV gems like Hoarders, Duck Dynasty, and Storage Wars (they’ve moved on to spin-offs like Road Wars, Customer Wars, and Prison Wars now). ... How to Watch A&E With A Free Trial
How to Watch Unimás With a Free Trial
As the sister channel of the much bigger Univision, Unimás is home to popular Spanish-language telenovelas and talk shows (yes, including El Gordo y La Flaca), as well as a couple of sports events and programs. Most notably, however, Unimás also operates a couple of station affiliates around the country, so it also reports local ... How to Watch Unimás With a Free Trial
How to Watch TNT With A Free Trial
For many sports fans, TNT is a non-negotiable. It broadcasts NBA, MLB, NHL, college basketball, and All Elite Wrestling matches. And, as a bonus, it also has reruns of shows like Supernatural, Charmed, and NCIS, as well as films like The Avengers, Dune, and Justice League. But while TNT used to be a cable staple, ... How to Watch TNT With A Free Trial