Natasha directed by David Bermozgis/ Russia/ 2015/93 minutes/ Russian and English/ Drama/ San Diego Premiere, playing Saturday, Feb. 6, at 9 p.m., at the Reading Cinemas 14, 4665 Clairemont Drive, San Diego.
By Donald H. Harrison
SAN DIEGO – When people immigrate from one country to the next, it often is to get away from something terrible. But what if the thing—or person—that you want to get away from most is immigrating right along with you?
In Natasha, in which the title character is played by Sasha K. Gordon, a 14-year-old girl accompanies her mother, whom she considers to be a whore, to Canada. The mother will marry the uncle of Mark, 16, whose Jewish parents had immigrated to Canada long enough before that Mark is beginning to forget some of the Russian language which he grew up with.
Mark’s mother insists that he show Natasha around, as she is without friends in Canada and does not speak the language. Thrown together, the teens find they have much to teach each other. Mark, portrayed by Alex Ozerov) teaches Natasha about marijuana, which he surreptitiously delivers on his bicycle to customers around the neighborhood. Natasha teaches Mark about sexual intercourse, which she says she has done “a hundred times,” initially as an exploited child in Russian pornography films.
Natasha initiates the sexual relationship with Mark as a way to get into Mark’s good graces. She wants nothing from him, really, except to be accepted into a normal childhood, away from her mother, whom she says manipulates men, including Mark’s uncle, for their money. Natasha happily prepares and serves dinner at Mark’s home, the seeming normalcy of his family being exactly what she has desired for her own life.
However, the conflict between Natasha and her mother cannot be avoided, leading to a dramatic conclusion in which Mark’s budding love for Natasha is put to the test. This movie is R-rated with Mark’s sexual initiation graphically portrayed.
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Harrison is editor of San Diego Jewish World. He may be contacted via donald.harrison@sdjewishworld.com. Comments intended for publication in the space below must be accompanied by the letter writer’s first and last name and by his/ her city and state of residence (city and country for those outside the U.S.)