I recently stumbled upon a Russian film called The Intern, and I just couldn't help myself - I had to watch it from start to finish. As soon as it started, I was hooked!
Director: Alexander Hobbs
Release: August 11, 2025 (Window to Europe Film Festival), October 2, 2025 (cinema release), December 25, 2025 (Premiere)
Genre: Comedy
Runtime: 1 hour 56 minutes
Plot
Nikolai Borisovich, a grey-haired gentleman, joins a multi-profile company as a courier. What's surprising is that he has a good education, experience abroad, but no experience as a courier. What led him to take on this job? Was it poverty? He's got a strange habit of carrying a Polaroid camera with him and documenting every achievement.
Cast and Characters
The cast is impressive, and I was particularly drawn to the duo of Sergey Shakurov and Ravshana Kurkova, who play the lead roles. Their performance is captivating, and I found each of their characters memorable.
Nikolai Borisovich (Sergey Shakurov)
When I saw the old man come in to apply for the courier job, I felt really sorry for him. Clearly, it wasn't out of choice! And then he met a not-so-nice person who held a leadership position and didn't treat him well. He decided to put the old man through a trial period. But I was convinced Nikolai Borisovich would make it through! But what would it cost him?
What led the pensioner to the company? What's the deal with the camera? For me, the main character was not only interesting but also quite enigmatic.
Sergey Shakurov nailed it.
Natalya Timurova (Ravshana Kurkova)
I'm the CEO of a multi-faceted company, and I'm worried about our stagnant profits. I was curious about why our new delivery guy, Nikolai Borisovich, was getting such great treatment. I had a hunch, but it didn't pan out. Instead, the twist was in a completely different direction – and it was both unexpected and logical.
I'm used to seeing Ravshana as a sweet, charming, and kind woman, whether she's playing a mom or a janitor. But in this businesswoman role, she really impressed me, and I found myself wanting to see her in this light again.
Pasha (Arseniy Popov)
I thought Pasha was the big boss from the start. He comes across as a pretty unpleasant guy, and I was wondering what Lisa saw in him.
He's a self-absorbed egotist who's happy to dump his work on others, but then takes all the credit for himself.
I wasn't familiar with Arseniy Popov before, but he did a great job with this role. He managed to evoke the right emotions without even saying a word – just through his body language, actions, and that smirk of his, which perfectly captures his character.
Lisa (Marina Kaletskaya)
I have to say, this character is a total go-getter who's always ready to take on the world - and that lazy guy's problems too. She's clearly got a thing for Pavel, but she's not about to admit it. When I watched her, I thought she was a sweet, charming girl who could really empathize and lend a helping hand. But it's clear that someone's been taking advantage of her. I didn't want to see her get mixed up with Pavel, and I wished there was another hero-prince who'd sweep Elizabeth off her feet, even if he didn't have a horse, and save her from Pavel's charms.
I vaguely remember the actress from other small roles. To me, she seems like a decent actress who did a great job playing the part of a lovesick girl.
Marina (Alina Alekseyeva)
Elizabeth's colleague and friend. Marina's a feisty one with a sharp tongue, but she's not mean-spirited. She's always throwing shade at Pavel, and she's not a fan of the way Elizabeth's been acting around him. It made me wonder: is Marina secretly in love with Pavel? Or will she swoop in and steal him away from Elizabeth?
To be honest, I'm not a big fan of Alina Alekseyeva, so her character didn't really grab me. But I did find myself curious about the potential romance between her and one of the other characters.
My Impression
I was hooked from the very first minute of this movie. The talent of the actors really makes a big difference. Take Shakurov, for example. Even in a simple scene, he managed to captivate my attention and make me care about his character. And as the movie went on, my interest only grew.
I've been left with so many questions about this mysterious character and their sudden appearance in the company. What could it possibly mean? I spent ages trying to figure it out, but the more I watched, the more questions I had. One thing I liked was that I couldn't have guessed most of the answers, and it wasn't until the writers deliberately revealed the plot that everything became clear.
The plot twists were far from predictable, to say the least.
I found myself completely absorbed in the story, not really wanting to predict what would happen next. It's one of those rare cases where I completely relaxed and enjoyed the acting and the plot development.
The events unfolded at a good pace, sometimes speeding up and sometimes slowing down, but I didn't want to look away from what was happening on screen.
I have to say, I never felt bored or uninterested while watching this show. In fact, the more I watched, the more I was hooked. It wasn't just about Nikolai Borisovich and his weird behavior anymore - I was invested in whether Lisa could get Pavel to do his reports on his own (and give him the right direction), and whether Natalia Timurovna could figure out why the company wasn't making a profit. And most importantly, who is that guy they're showing us, jumping back and forth between memories and prison?
Genre-wise, this is a comedy, but I didn't find myself laughing out loud. It's more of a family-friendly film, with no explicit scenes or profanity. Everything is very wholesome and pleasant.
The main character may seem strange and suspicious at first, but I found myself believing in him - he genuinely doesn't want to do anything bad. It's clear that he's got good intentions. Was I right to trust him?
When I think about it, some of the events in this film feel a bit far-fetched. I'd love to give specific examples, but that would be a major spoiler. I want you to discover those surprises for yourself while watching, not while reading reviews. But honestly, the lack of realism doesn't bother me. Maybe there are people out there who'd actually do something like what Nikolai Borisovich does. And to be honest, I'm in the mood for more kindness and positive vibes around New Year's, and this film delivers, despite having some negative characters.
There's a lot of emotional depth to this film, but mostly it's positive. You might feel a bit on edge towards the end, but it's not like it's going to leave you feeling angry or upset.
The visuals, locations, sets, and soundtrack are all top-notch.
Verdict: I'm thoroughly enjoying 'The Intern: Russian Style' and would definitely recommend it. I wouldn't be surprised if I end up rewatching it in the future.