Arijit Saha (aristevenhitchcock) Though the title of the film is "The Thief", in reality, this is not at all the story of one. It's a story of a helpless woman and his newborn son, it's a story about a son who has never seen his father but always wanted to feel the warmth of a father's guidance, it is also a story about a person who is quite habituated to playing with people's trust, does it makes him a bad person? this film poses this question towards its audience but did not answer it. A beautiful story about human emotions and its soul. All the performances are life-like, especially the child actor is the main heart of the film. well directed and photographed as well.

john-nikolaidis First saw this movie in its first screening, and being just a kid, I cried with all my heart. 17 years later I managed to remember the title, rediscover the the movie and watch it again. To be honest, I actually had to open an IMDb account just to give this movie 10 stars. The acting is just superb. The story is truly heartbreaking but manages to radiate the little boys tenderness in a way you will never forget. The parallels are endless. The scene where the little boy follows the prison truck will always remain in my heart. Just watching this masterpiece changed me forever and I think that only a Russian director and cast could create such a masterpiece. Only people who lived the Stalin era would have the dare to give us such a story. If you have to see one film this year, well.... this is it.

ozan1982 Even it's a period drama, I believe this piece of art will never bore those who has no interest or knowledge about stalin-era. Its touching and well-developed story is easy to follow but never shallow. The casting is perfect. The faces of 3 main characters are hard to forget. I think Soviet experience, especially the Great Purge in 1930's deserves much more historical movies. And in general soviet period dramas must more concentrate on the social and economic backrounds of the system rather than limiting itself with narrow family or crime stories. I can't say this movie doesn't try it, but it could be much stronger. And one more remark, the story is not fully based on political metaphors. That's why I've found it very successful since the author tells the story of ordinary people, instead of being obsessive with simple methafors. Highly recommended.

slonarch This is one of my favorite films. Every time I see it, it touches me deeply and I can't get it out of my mind for a day or two. It helps me put my life into perspective and revisit the basic assumptions by which I live. Since the plot has been summarized by many other reviewers, I'll just share my own perception of the film.While there is an important political and historic component to it, the movie is, in my opinion, about relationships: love and fatherhood. Despite the sadness, the story is inspiring in a way, as it reminds the viewer of the power (in this case - destructive) of the true love. It would make you cherish the love that you are lucky to have, or will make you want to seek one.The film also shows the role that a father plays in a boy's life, in becoming a man, and the faithfulness and commitment that are the platform of such relationship. Again, the tragedy of the fake, non-committed fatherhood helps put things into perspective for the rest of us.I disagree with other reviewers that seem to think that this is a film primarily about Stalinist Russia. When you see a story that introduces you to a new, unfamiliar environment, you tend to pay attention more to the environment than to the story. If "Romeo and Juliette" was filmed on Mars, you'd keep staring at the Martian landscapes instead of the actors. Keep in mind that this movie was intended primarily for consumption by Russians, who are generally aware of how their country looked back then. By focusing purely on the landscape (toasts to Stalin, communal apartments, ruined post-war country) you'll miss the play.