Went to a women's movie and even kind of liked it

I'm talking about "Be Gentle with Yourself," an adaptation of the eponymous book about self-help, self-love, and all that pop psychology that I always view with skepticism.

The film, of course, is made according to all the canons of a lyrical melodrama with a heroine who eventually overcomes all obstacles, reconciles with her demons, and becomes free and happy.

But, firstly, it's well-acted – Karina Razumovskaya is wonderful in an unexpected role (for the audience), Artyom Tkachenko convincingly portrays a vulnerable middle-aged man, and Olga Medynich spices it all up with funny punchlines.

Secondly, it avoids straightforward moralizing and doesn't say, like, you shouldn't live this way, but you should live that way – it honestly tells the story of an individual person in specific circumstances. I like that approach. Unlike the damn product placement of Yandex and L'Etoile.

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