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The Needle
Игла
1989 76 min Soviet Union, Kazakhstan 18+
★7.1
Drama, Thriller, Mystery
Director: Rashid Nugmanov
Trailers
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Description
Moro returns to Alma-Ata to collect money owed to him. While waiting out an unexpected delay, he visits his former girlfriend Dina and discovers she has become a morphine addict. He decides to help her kick the habit and to fight the local drug mafia responsible for her condition.
Starring
Viktor Tsoy
Actor
Marina Smirnova
Actor
Pyotr Mamonov
Actor
Awards
1 win
Key opinion
Igla is widely regarded as a seminal cultural artifact of the late Soviet era, largely due to the magnetic presence of Viktor Tsoi and the film's evocative atmosphere. While many viewers cherish it as a legendary, timeless portrait of a generation, critics often point to its thin plot, underdeveloped characters, and pacing issues, suggesting that the film's reputation relies heavily on nostalgia and its iconic lead actor.
| Acting | Viktor Tsoi's natural, iconic screen presence serves as the definitive anchor for the film's cultural legacy. | |
| Score | The soundtrack and sound design, featuring iconic tracks by Kino, are instrumental in defining the film's gripping atmosphere. | |
| Production | The film effectively captures the bleak, melancholic aesthetic of late 80s Almaty and the environmental tragedy of the Aral Sea. | |
| Screenplay | The narrative is polarized: some find the minimalist, ambiguous approach profound and meditative, while others criticize the screenplay for being thin, clichéd, and lacking substantial character development. | |
| Culture | Opinions on the film's lasting value are divided between those who view it as a timeless, legendary masterwork and those who feel it has aged poorly, offering little substance beyond its historical significance. |