Is Long Dates Worth Watching? Honest Movie Review & Audience Verdict (2023)

🎬 The Narrative Arc & Core Premise

Long Dates, a standout production of 2023, meticulously weaves its narrative threads through the Drama, Romance landscape, offering a cinematic experience that is as challenging as it is rewarding. The primary thematic concern of the film is an investigation into Father Alexey (a member of the Auctioneer group Oleg Garkusha), an elderly, eccentric and kind priest, spends his days alone, except for visiting his sick brother and his daughter. As the story unfolds, we are introduced to a world where the traditional boundaries of Drama, Romance are tested.

The screenplay takes its time to establish the stakes, ensuring that every character motivation is grounded in a psychological reality. The synopsis only hints at the depth: "Father Alexey (a member of the Auctioneer group Oleg Garkusha), an elderly, eccentric and kind priest, spends his days alone, except for visiting his sick brother and his daughter. One day he receives an assignment to visit a deaf girl Violetta (Vasilisa Perelygina) in prison, falsely accused of setting fire to a church. When Father Alexei recognizes her as an orphan, whom he baptized as Barbara in infancy, a new meaning appears in his life."

🎭 Artistic Execution & Performance Study

A film's resonance is often dictated by the strength of its execution, both in front of and behind the camera. Oleg Garkusha does an admirable job with the material provided, but one can't help but feel that a more daring directorial approach would have yielded a more impactful result. It is a competent but ultimately standard genre performance.

The direction by Georgy Lyalin is marked by a steady and professional hand. From a production standpoint, the film meets the high standards of modern industrial filmmaking. The sets are well-crafted, and the visual effects are integrated with a level of polish that ensures the viewer matches the director's intended level of immersion. While perhaps not groundbreaking, the execution is flawless. The pacing, over its 80 minute runtime, allows the audience to fully inhabit the space the director has created, making the eventual resolution feel deeply earned.

🤔 Critical Assessment: Why You Should Watch

Is Long Dates truly worth your investment of time and attention? In an era of disposable content, this film makes a strong case for its existence. If you are a connoisseur of Drama, Romance, then this is a worthwhile watch if you have a specific interest in the themes or the performers involved.

The film's ability to perfectly execute its genre requirements is why it has earned its 0/10 score. It speaks to a global audience while maintaining a distinct and unique voice, a balance that is notoriously difficult to achieve in the modern marketplace.

⚖️ Philosophical Subtext & Directorial Vision

At a deeper level, Long Dates explores the dichotomy of truth and perception. The 2023 audience is increasingly sophisticated, and Georgy Lyalin respects this by refusing to provide easy answers to the story's complex questions.

The philosophical underpinnings of the second and third acts suggest a narrative that is interested in more than just entertainment. It is an exploration of what it means to be human in an increasingly complex world.

🏆 Final Editorial Recommendation

Ultimately, Long Dates is an interesting experiment that, while flawed, offers enough moments of creative spark to be worth a casual glance for the curious. Whether you are drawn to it by the star power of Oleg Garkusha or the critical acclaim surrounding its release, Long Dates is a film that demands to be seen on the largest screen possible.