Two Prosecutors

Two Prosecutors

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8 / 10

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Overview

In 1937, amidst Stalin's Great Terror, a newly appointed prosecutor for the USSR is made aware of alleged corruption in the Secret Police, and takes it upon himself to investigate.

Media

TWO PROSECUTORS - Official Trailer

Cast

Aleksandr Kuznetsov

Aleksandr Filippenko

Director:

Sergei Loznitsa

Writer:

Sergei Loznitsa, Georgy Demidov

Release Date:

2025-10-03

Run Time:

118m

Genres:

Drama History Mystery Thriller

Keywords:

1930s based on novel or book based on true story courtroom drama government corruption historical drama joseph stalin prosecutor soviet union history ussr

Financials and Popularity

Budget: Not Declared

Revenue: Not Declared

Vote Average: 6.9/10

Vote Count: 31 Votes

Movie Popularity: 1.9532

Spoken Languages: Russian, Ukrainian

Review

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Insomniacs Reviews
- 28 April 2026 at 9:28 pm

8 Based on 1 Votes
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⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 8/10 THE SUMMARY Set in 1937 during the height of Stalin’s Great Purge, idealistic young prosecutor Kornyev (Aleksandr Kuznetsov) discovers a letter from a political prisoner who has been tortured and jailed by the secret police (NKVD) without evidence. Believing this to be a local case of corruption rather than a nationwide policy, Kornyev embarks on a "shaggy dog" odyssey through the Soviet bureaucracy. He travels all the way to Moscow to appeal to the Procurator General, only to realize that his quest for justice is a direct threat to a system designed to crush it. It’s a chilling, Kafka-esque look at how totalitarianism functions through endless waiting rooms and a terrifying lack of human empathy. THE PROS Aleksandr Kuznetsov is quality as Kornyev; he perfectly captures that sincere, naive energy of a man who genuinely believes the law will protect him. Director Sergei Loznitsa brings an epic status level of detail to the 1930s setting, making the cold, grey halls of Soviet power feel oppressive and lived-in. The cinematography by Oleg Mutu is pure quality, using long, meticulous shots that build a punchy sense of dread. It’s an 8/10 because it manages to find a bitter, dark humor in the absurdity of the bureaucracy—the scenes of Kornyev navigating antechambers and disinterested officials are a winner for their tension and wit. Aleksandr Filippenko is also a standout as the imprisoned Stepniak, delivering a powerhouse performance in limited screen time. THE CONS It earns an 8/10 because the "slow cinema" approach can make the pacing feel slightly sluggish for those expecting a fast-paced legal thriller. The narrative is intentionally repetitive to show the grind of the system, which can be a bit of a damp squib if you’re not in the mood for a bleak, intellectual exercise. It misses a 9/10 mark because the ending, while effective and punchy, is predictably miserable, leaving the viewer with a sense of futility that might feel quality-deficient to those looking for a shred of hope. At nearly two hours, some of the dialogue-heavy scenes in the middle act feel a bit like a trial to get through. THE VERDICT An 8/10. A good movie and highly recommended for fans of historical dramas like 'The Death of Stalin' but played with a much colder, more sincere heart. It’s a winner for its atmosphere and haunting lead performance. Go and watch it on MUBI—it’s quality, high-brow filmmaking that stays with you. INSOMNIAC TRIVIA • Based on Truth: The film is an adaptation of a novel by Georgy Demidov, a physicist and Gulag survivor who wrote about his experiences during the purges. The "Two Prosecutors" in the title refers to the ideological clash between the old-school legalists and the new, ruthless agents of the state.• Authentic Locations: Despite being set in Russia, the film was primarily shot in Latvia. The production team searched for months to find authentic Soviet-era architecture that hadn't been modernized, ensuring the "limbo" feel of the offices was quality and accurate.• Festival Pedigree: The film was a major talking point at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where critics praised its relevance to modern authoritarianism. It’s considered one of Sergei Loznitsa’s most accessible fiction films to date. THE VIBE Like being trapped in a never-ending job interview in a freezing building. It smells like old paper, wet wool, and floor wax.

Videos

TWO PROSECUTORS - Official Trailer

Cast

Aleksandr Kuznetsov

Aleksandr Filippenko

Vytautas Kaniušonis

Valentin Novopolskij

Ivgeny Terletsky

Valerijus Jevsejevas

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Two Prosecutors

Comment (1)

Insomniacs Reviews
- 28 April 2026 at 10:28 PM

⭐ Insomniacs Rating: 8/10
THE SUMMARY
Set in 1937 during the height of Stalin’s Great Purge, idealistic young prosecutor Kornyev (Aleksandr Kuznetsov) discovers a letter from a political prisoner who has been tortured and jailed by the secret police (NKVD) without evidence. Believing this to be a local case of corruption rather than a nationwide policy, Kornyev embarks on a “shaggy dog” odyssey through the Soviet bureaucracy. He travels all the way to Moscow to appeal to the Procurator General, only to realize that his quest for justice is a direct threat to a system designed to crush it. It’s a chilling, Kafka-esque look at how totalitarianism functions through endless waiting rooms and a terrifying lack of human empathy.
THE PROS
Aleksandr Kuznetsov is quality as Kornyev; he perfectly captures that sincere, naive energy of a man who genuinely believes the law will protect him. Director Sergei Loznitsa brings an epic status level of detail to the 1930s setting, making the cold, grey halls of Soviet power feel oppressive and lived-in. The cinematography by Oleg Mutu is pure quality, using long, meticulous shots that build a punchy sense of dread. It’s an 8/10 because it manages to find a bitter, dark humor in the absurdity of the bureaucracy—the scenes of Kornyev navigating antechambers and disinterested officials are a winner for their tension and wit. Aleksandr Filippenko is also a standout as the imprisoned Stepniak, delivering a powerhouse performance in limited screen time.
THE CONS
It earns an 8/10 because the “slow cinema” approach can make the pacing feel slightly sluggish for those expecting a fast-paced legal thriller. The narrative is intentionally repetitive to show the grind of the system, which can be a bit of a damp squib if you’re not in the mood for a bleak, intellectual exercise. It misses a 9/10 mark because the ending, while effective and punchy, is predictably miserable, leaving the viewer with a sense of futility that might feel quality-deficient to those looking for a shred of hope. At nearly two hours, some of the dialogue-heavy scenes in the middle act feel a bit like a trial to get through.
THE VERDICT
An 8/10. A good movie and highly recommended for fans of historical dramas like ‘The Death of Stalin’ but played with a much colder, more sincere heart. It’s a winner for its atmosphere and haunting lead performance. Go and watch it on MUBI—it’s quality, high-brow filmmaking that stays with you.
INSOMNIAC TRIVIA
• Based on Truth: The film is an adaptation of a novel by Georgy Demidov, a physicist and Gulag survivor who wrote about his experiences during the purges. The “Two Prosecutors” in the title refers to the ideological clash between the old-school legalists and the new, ruthless agents of the state.
• Authentic Locations: Despite being set in Russia, the film was primarily shot in Latvia. The production team searched for months to find authentic Soviet-era architecture that hadn’t been modernized, ensuring the “limbo” feel of the offices was quality and accurate.
• Festival Pedigree: The film was a major talking point at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival, where critics praised its relevance to modern authoritarianism. It’s considered one of Sergei Loznitsa’s most accessible fiction films to date.
THE VIBE
Like being trapped in a never-ending job interview in a freezing building. It smells like old paper, wet wool, and floor wax.

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