On June 23, the online cinema KION will premiere the melodrama about people who stutter, 'Breathe Free' by Sergei Bodrov Sr. Somewhat autobiographical, somewhat ambitious, but, alas, lacking charm and any noticeable attempt to be an interesting film...

We haven't seen works by Sergei Bodrov since the mediocre 'Seventh Son' (2014), for which Julianne Moore even earned a nomination for the Razzie Award. And now, after years of hiatus, the director has returned with a modest melodrama about a love triangle and the struggles of people who stutter, titled 'Breathe Free'.

The idea for this film (or rather its theme) came to Bodrov back in the 90s, as he himself underwent treatment for stuttering, so he knows the problems associated with this condition firsthand. Attempts at reflection and self-therapy through cinema often turn out to be a boon for audiences. A prime example is 'Mirror' by Andrei Tarkovsky, with which 'Breathe Free' shares an opening scene that resonates in its documentary-like authenticity. But even masterful directors have their failures. And the unrealized potential of this new release is precisely that—a failure.

When People Who Stutter Sing, They Don't Stutter

At the center of the plot are Ilya (Evgeny Tkachuk) and Vera (Polina Pushkaruk), both struggling with stuttering, who bond over shared issues—self-doubt, difficulties in communicating with relatives (she with her mother, he with his ex-wife and the mother of his child). Together, they attend group therapy with Dr. Cherkasova (Polina Agureeva), who literally works miracles in her sessions. But Cherkasova, who can help others, cannot sort out her own personal life and turns to the young and attractive Vera for advice. And the object of her romantic interest turns out to be none other than Ilya.

'Breathe Free' splits into two parts even at the conceptual level. On one hand, it's a film about people who stutter and their existence in our reality; on the other, it's a melodrama about a love triangle. And the saddest part is that these parts don't work on their own, let alone in combination.

For an important inclusive statement, the film says far too little. We don't gain a clearer understanding of how people who stutter live, what position they hold in society, what difficulties (beyond the obvious) they face, or what they dream about. All of this is masked by the hollow desire to 'be normal'. No social critique. No reflection. No inclusivity. It's almost a joke that in the entire film, only one person actually stutters. And most characters utter at most a couple of lines throughout the screen time. So you can't even call it 'our answer to the film 'CODA'.

As a melodrama, 'Breathe Free' is too simple and predictable. There's no chemistry between the characters because, at the script level, their relationship is stitched together with flimsy threads. Vera and Ilya are together simply because they both stutter. Cherkasova is interested in Ilya because it makes the conflict seem more complex: a man depends on a woman, and she wields the power of her position. Because of this contrivance, you can never utter the meme-worthy 'I care about their relationship more than my own'.

And the vague backstory of each character makes things even worse: Ilya has PTSD, which forces actor Tkachuk to overact and weaves strange, unnecessary scenes into the plot; Vera has a troubled friend and a drinking mother, which has no impact on her actions or character.

Is It Worth Watching the Film 'Breathe Free'?

Throughout the entire viewing, you can't help but think about what the film could have been.

It could have been a worthy representation of a vulnerable segment of society by a renowned director with a global reputation. But it lacks depth and courage.

It could have become a love story that tugs at the heartstrings, set against the endlessly beautiful backdrop of the Northern capital. But it lacks life, passion, and, indeed, love.

But the way 'Breathe Free' turned out... it's nothing less than a film of unrealized potential.

Trailer:

'Breathe Free' from June 23 on the online cinema KION