Customer Reviews

Assassin Next Door, The

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(5)

 

 

This excellent film - which is well written, directed, and acted - is the story of a woman who has to fight tenaciously to regain her freedom, and to redeem herself (in her own eyes). The central character, Galya, is charismatic and psychologically strong, but she made a terrible mistake four years previously and her subsequent life has become a nightmare - trapped by a criminal gang, forced first into prostitution, then into becoming a gangland assassin. Her fight for freedom is symbolized by her attempts to regain possession of her passport, and her quest for redemption is symbolised by her desire to return home (to the Ukraine) to a hoped-for happier life with her five-year-old daughter. While trying to save herself from the criminals, she attempts to save her friend from her friend's abusive husband.

From the opening scene, where her eyes magnetically draw the viewer into Galya's world, Olga Kurylenko plays her part intelligently and skilfully. She's very good at emotional depth and complexity, and she convincingly projects Galya's conflicting emotions. Also well done is the way she shows Galya's fight for her life and her struggle to maintain her fundamental purity of heart, while being engulfed in the gang's earthly version of hell. She's superb at conveying feelings even when she's not interacting with the other characters. For example, on one wall of her apartment Galya creates a large drawing of herself and her child (it's a symbolic doorway to her paradise) and while she draws, Olga beautifully expresses the fleeting serenity of Galya's creativity, and the way it brings her closer to her daughter (in her imagination).

Ninet Tayeb is excellent as Elinor, Galya's next-door neighbour. For example, there's a nice scene where Elinor tries to excuse her husband. Galya dismissively says "it's not your fault" but Ninet conveys in her eyes that Elinor thinks it really is her fault. Thus, by good acting she shows that Elinor is abused both externally (by her husband) and internally (by her inner critic).

Writer/director Danny Learner cleverly structures the relationships of the characters by placing Galya at the centre, with everyone else in concentric circles around her. Galya is the sun, with Elinor in close orbit. The two women have fully developed characters, with faults as well a virtues. In the cold outer reaches of the film's solar system orbit the men, none of whom have any redeeming features: they have no love, no compassion, no sense of justice. Their only interest is in power (especially power over women). The gang leaders (well portrayed by Liron Levo as the heartless Roni, and Vladimir Friedman as the lyingly manipulative Mishka) are a collection of lost souls who have adopted enslavement and murder, including deliberate murder of the innocent, as a way of life. Their system of "business" would not be complete without its routine betrayals, and of course they betray Galya - the smaller betrayals building up to a larger betrayal.

The film has lots of fine details. For example, the reality of Galya's life is nicely contrasted with idyllic dream sequences (which, nevertheless, are never quite free of anxiety) where she tries to reach her daughter. The interior physical space of her apartment is used as a metaphor for Galya's interior mental space - a place where she tries to find refuge and solace from external events which she can't control. The apartment is grim and mirrors the grimness of her life. But like her spirit, it also has the beautiful door to paradise - the picture on the wall, which symbolises Galya's hope of returning to a better life.

The scenes where the women turn animosity into friendship, and later on friendship into love, are especially good. For example, early on Elinor manages to upset Galya very much by brusquely refusing her help, and a little later Elinor changes her mind and tries to befriend Galya, but by then Galya has her emotional armour in place and her response is frosty. Elinor has to work hard to break through to Galya, and Elinor/Ninet is irresistibly charming in thawing out Galya, and Galya/Olga is delightful in the way she lets herself be thawed out. In another scene, when they're on the bed together, there's a beautiful intimacy where the two women create a little bubble of love round themselves. It's a tender moment in a pair of desperate lives. Lyrical scenes like these constitute a humane slow movement in the violent symphony which is the rest of the film.

The music is good and enhances the plot.

I can't understand why such a good film hasn't been put on general release; it deserves to be much better known.

I watched this movie just on the fact that Olga Kurylenko was in it. I first saw her acting in The Hitman & was very impressed with her exotic beauty, expressive eyes & defiant spirit yet displaying vulnerabilty. Her character in Assassin displays very similar characteristics, which works even better in this movie. Other reviewers have already outlined the plot, so I won't go there. This movie has a bit of everything and thats what makes it so good. It has beautiful women that can think & are independent, it has an emotional content that will touch you, great action, a good story line, great music & symbolisms. Olga has very expressive and penetrative eyes which was apparent in The Hitman. She can portray great information & emotion just using her eyes and expressions on her face. She has a very natural presence in front of the camera and therefore very convincing in her role. She was greatly under used in the Quantum Solace & therefore if you saw that movie do not use that to judge her abilities. I think she has all the qualities if she is properly developed and marketed to be one of the best actresses I have ever seen. She is the full package of looks & talent. She can be cute & playful, yet strong and serious as a heart attack. I look forward to her next movie.

Olga Kurylenko is Galia, the titular heroine of "The Assassin Next Door" (original title "Kirot"). She is a Ukrainian prostitute-turned-assassin currently living in an old apartment room in Tel Aviv. With her passport confiscated by the gangster who hires her as assassin, she spends her days waiting for the assignments to kill, dreaming of one day meeting her daughter she left in Ukraine again. But her life changes drastically when Galia meets Elinor (Ninet Tayeb), a woman living in a room across the hall, abused by her wife-beating husband.

The Israeli-French-US film stars Olga Kurylenko, "Bond girl" of "Quantum of Solace," but those who are looking for Hollywood-style "big" actions would be disappointed. Obviously director Danny Lerner is less interested in staging shoot-outs and explosions than presenting the gritty atmosphere of the world Galia and Elinor are living. This approach, together with effective photography, brings tension and realism to the film, especially in the description of the friendship between the two exploited women, but we also have to turn a blind eye to the film's incredible storyline and situations (so, where is the police?)

"The Assassin Next Door" has the brooding mood of "La Femme Nikita," but its theme is close to that of "Thelma & Louise," and the film benefits from the strong performances from the two leads. See the film for its fine portrayal of two women played by Olga Kurylenko and Ninet Tayeb.

Surprisingly good. I didn't know what to expect at all going into this, and I cannot imagine being more happy with what I found. One of the most impressive displays of acting by both female leads, and there is certainly so much more going for the characters than the dialog.

This is a solid 4.5 star movie, imo. The plot flows in a straight forward way with some exceptional scenes and how it unfolds makes sense. The only failing is there's no training or preparation for the assassin. Though the character matures somewhat in a haphazard and lucky fashion, she's still an amateur and reacts more than she thinks.

It's a decent movie.

Deep, brooding,yet hopeful. This movie has depth and great character development. Beautiful women, villains, gunplay. I didn't expect much from this movie but I got a lot. Loved it!

Movie is a great watch. You really get into it. The beginning can be a little rough to watch because of the different language but you'll figure it all out. But please if anyone knows what the name of the song is at the end with the piano send me a link or a name! I love it!

Moving story but illogical. All that gun play and never, not once, a policeman in sight. Evidently, in Tel-Aviv you can kill people at will and never get caught or even tracked. No one calls the police; even the airport security is absent. So, as long as you can accept this, the acting was superb.

It's a shame it took so long for THE ASSASSIN NEXT DOOR (KIROT) to be released, as it is by far the best movie of the year.

Anyone expecting an action-packed shoot 'em up might be disappointed though. KIROT fits better in the thriller/drama section and that makes the film so compelling. It is a serious and very touching movie about forced prostitution and abuse.

Both stars of this picture, Olga Kurylenko and Ninet Tayeb deliver outstanding performances (it is a pity that Kurylenko hasn't been offered better roles in the US, but that should change after this).

All in all I can only STRONGLY RECOMMEND this movie!!

YOU HAVE 2 FEMALE NEIGHBORS: ONE IS FORCED TO BE AN ASSASSIN FOR A SADISTIC MOB,THE OTHER A VICTIM OF AN ABUSIVE HUSBAND. THEY FORM A CLOSE BOND SINCE BOTH ARE TRAPPED IN A RUTHLESS AND VIOLENT LIFE. TO ESCAPE THEY MUST UNITE AND BE JUST AS VICIOUS AS THEIR TORMENTORS.