on a passing truck. Cast Sergei Bodrov Jr. – Danila Bagrov Viktor Sukhorukov – Viktor Bagrov (voiced by Aleksei Poluyan) Svetlana Pismichenko – Sveta Maria Zhukova – Kat Yury Kuznetsov – "The German" Hoffman Irina Rakshina – Zinka Sergei Murzin – Roundhead (voiced by Aleksandr Stroev) Andrey Fyodortsov – Stepan Igor Shibanov – Militiaman Andrey Krasko – Owner of the raided apartment Aleksei Poluyan – "Mole" the bandit Igor Lifanov – One of Roundhead's bandits (voiced by Aleksandr Bashirov) Tatiana Zakharova – Danila's and Viktor's mother (voiced by Nina Usatova) Sergei Debizhev – Music video director (voiced by Valery Kukhareshin) Konstantin Anisimov – Music video security guard (voiced by Viktor Bychkov) Anatoly Gorin – Sveta's roommate (voiced by Viktor Bychkov) The film also features brief appearances from several Russian rock musicians: Vyacheslav Butusov, as well as other members of Nautilus Pompilius Sergey Chigrakov Nastya Poleva Band members of Aquarium Band members of Kolibri Production crew Aleksei Balabanov – director, screenwriter Sergei Astakhov – camera operator Vladimir Kartashov – production designer Nadezhda Vasilyeva – costumer Vyacheslav Butusov – composer Sergei Selyanov – producer Release Brother was selected for screening at a number of Russian and international film festivals, where it won many awards. The festivals include, among others: Cannes Film Festival, Un Certain Regard Chicago International Film Festival Sozvezdie Torino International Film Festival Trieste International Film Festival The film was released on VHS in June 1997 and premiered on television on 12 December 1997. Reception The film became an instant hit, and raised the fortunes of both Sergey Bodrov and director Aleksei Balabanov. The story's depiction revolves around the problems and attitudes of the 1990s Russia: crime, poverty (in face of the homeless Hoffman), the disaffection of the Russian youth (as with the character Kat), failing families (as with Sveta and her abusive husband) and of course, betrayal and hypocrisy even towards the most closest of relatives (such as Viktor first using Danila as cover, and then turning him over). All this was brought about in the aftermath of the Soviet collapse, which took place only six years prior. Yet, despite such negative connotation amid the social decay, it illustrates that there is still courage and good in the face of Danila, who is portrayed as having an acute sense of right and wrong, and appears to follow some semblance of a moral code. As such it carries a powerful psychological