Name: Chayki
Genre: Drama
Released: 2015-10-27
Duration: 1 h 27 min
Rating: 6.5
Cast: Evgeniya Mandzhieva, Sergey Adianov, Lyubov Ubushieva

Chaika (The Gulls) provides a glimpse into the world of Kalmykia through a remote fishing community on the Caspian Sea.

"Chaika" or "The Gulls," written and directed by Ella Manzheeva, depicts a harsh and difficult climate for Elsa, played by model Evgeniya Mandzhieva, in her first big-screen appearance and Dzhiga, played by Sergei Andianov. Elsa teaches piano to small children in the town center while Dzhiga is a burly fisherman and small-time criminal. "The Gulls,",is a visual feast of the small village of Lagan, Kalmykia (a remote Russian republic bordering the Caspian Sea). Stunning aerial shots of its waterways and icy ocean fronts set the tone for this chilling tale of life and in Kalmykia.

Kalmykia is primarily a fishing community. The culture is Buddhist. The area has cell-phone coverage. And the locals line up to see the town's fortune-teller to find out what is waiting for them. Elsa comes to see the fortune teller with the rest of the women only to be turned away as the fortune teller refuses to see her. The only people Elsa is able to engage are the wife of the local crime-boss and her husband Dzhiga's younger brother. Together they seem to exude hidden chemistry.

Dzhiga, on the other hand, doesn't seem to know any strangers. He has his fishing buddies over to discuss a illegal fishing excursion so he can add to a marriage dowry. Dzhiga's mother is not happy with Dzhiga as Elsa has not provided any children. During a family gathering an elder sings the traditional songs of the Kalmyk. It's a haunting rendition adding credence and complementing the local folklore - the gulls represent the souls of the community's departed fisherman.

Throughout "The Gulls," the cinematography catches unique aspects of the Kalmyiran culture. In addition, to the aerial shots and the misty, gray outdoor shots, Director of Photography, Alexander Kuznetsov, has plenty of colors and designs for his indoor shots . Art Director, Denis Bauer, provides a plethora of pastels and bright primary colors to create a vivid backdrop with a decidedly Buddhist accent.Composer Anton Silaev provides a unique soundtrack utilizing natural sounds to great effect.

For her first time out Mandzhieva holds her own. She exudes a fragility presumably from the harshness of the environment. When Kuznetsov gets her indoors, her natural beauty and grace illuminate the frames. It's easy to visualize her on the runway for a fashion shoot. One particular shot of Elsa's beautiful, long, sleek, black hair captures the imagination as she sleeps. As if in a dream state a dissolve into fireworks completes the shot.

Her emotives are not overwhelming as her character is accommodating not wanting or desiring to provoke anyone. She goes along to get along. Yet, hearing her unborn baby's heartbeat, Mandzhieva emotes appropriately. Her facial features flush and her eyes become expressive as a tear of joy glides over and across her nose then gently rolling off the opposite cheek.

"The Gulls," may not receive a mainstream distribution. Nevertheless, this isn't the last time we'll see this gorgeous regional cinema. The film received the support from the Russian Ministry of Culture. Manzheeva is gaining attention with this her first feature film after studying the High Course of Screen writing and Directing in Moscow. and Mandzhieva is honing the craft in Moscow. No. This isn't the last we'll hear from this region. It's just the beginning. Recommended.

Russian cinema is distinguished by its epic scale, philosophical depth, and innovative visual language. It often explores history, ideology, and the human psyche, with a tradition of psychological realism and artistic experimentation. Russian cinema contributed revolutionary theories of editing and later a spiritual approach to film language. It remains known for combining formal experimentation with profound explorations of endurance and belief.

Nikolay Grinko, Aleksandr Kaydanovskiy, and Anatoliy Solonitsyn in Stalker (1979)

The drama genre is a broad category that features stories portraying human experiences, emotions, conflicts, and relationships in a realistic and emotionally impactful way. Dramas delve into the complexities of human life, often exploring themes of love, loss, morality, societal issues, personal growth, with the aim to evoke an emotional response from the audience by presenting relatable and thought-provoking stories.

Mahershala Ali and Alex R. Hibbert in Moonlight (2016)

"Only the wind, the sand, the reed and a desire to live not worse than the others..." - these words served as a base for the atmosphere of this story, and they are incredibly precise as a definition of the real world in these places. The Seagulls are a parable on the background of modern Kalmykia. It is about love, with the characters intuitively fulfilling forgotten traditions. Their love is silent and their sorrow is without tears - The seagulls are souls of dead fishermen, broken boats - a hope. Elza the fisherman's wife lives in a seaside town in Kalmykia. She wants to leave her husband but cannot take this step because she is afraid of uncertainty. Suddenly her husband dies. Because of his death, Elza has to think everything over and reconsider her views on life, on happiness, on liberty.

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood's perfect pairs.

Hollywood Power Couples

Get a closer look at some of Hollywood&#39;s perfect pairs.

"The Gentlemen" and "Slow Horses" return this fall, while the "Reacher" spin-off series "Neagley" makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

2026 Fall TV and Streaming Watch Guide

&quot;The Gentlemen&quot; and &quot;Slow Horses&quot; return this fall, while the &quot;Reacher&quot; spin-off series &quot;Neagley&quot; makes its debut. See our guide of the biggest Fall TV and streaming releases.

Get a closer look at these actors from their many TV and streaming series roles.

The Gulls

Videos2

Photos16

Top Cast4

User reviews1

Related interests

Storyline

Top picks

Details

Tech specs

Contribute to this page

More to explore

Recently viewed