Eastern Promises (2007)

Eastern Promises is a 2007 gangster thriller film directed by David Cronenberg, from a screenplay written by Steven Knight. The film tells of a British midwife's interactions with the Russian Mafia in London and stars Viggo Mortensen, Naomi Watts and Vincent Cassel. Principal photography began November 2006, in locations in and around London. The film has been noted for its plot twist, the subject of sex trafficking, and for its violence and realistic depiction of Russian career criminals, which includes detailed portrayal of the tattoos commonly worn by them. Eastern Promises received positive critical reception, appearing on several US critics' "top ten films" lists for 2007. The film has won several awards, including the Audience Prize for best film at the Toronto International Film Festival and the Best Actor award for Mortensen at the British Independent Film Awards. The film received twelve Genie Award nominations and three Golden Globe Award nominations. Mortensen was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actor.

Anna Khitrova (Naomi Watts), a midwife at a London hospital, finds a Russian-language diary on the body of Tatiana, a 14-year-old girl who dies in childbirth. She also finds a card for the Trans-Siberian restaurant, which is owned by Semyon (Armin Mueller-Stahl), a boss in the Russian Mafia or vory v zakone ("thieves in law"). Anna thus sets out to track down the girl's family so that she can find a home for the dead mother's baby girl. Anna's mother Helen (Sinéad Cusack) does not discourage her, but Anna's Kiev-born uncle Stepan (Jerzy Skolimowski), whom Anna asks for help with the translation of the diary, urges caution. Through Semyon and her uncle, Anna comes to learn that Semyon and his unstable son, Kirill (Vincent Cassel), had abused, addicted her to heroin, forced into prostitution, and raped the girl. Semyon's driver is Russian Nikolai Luzhin (Viggo Mortensen), who serves as the family's driver and "cleaner", dumping bodies in the River Thames. As Nikolai's star rises within the vory, Semyon sponsors him as a full member, due in part to Nikolai's protection of Semyon's bumbling son who authorizes a hit on a rival Chechen vory leader. The hit was not approved by Semyon and was ill-advised with the Chechen gang now coming to London to seek vengeance. Semyon, impressed by Nikolai's knowledge of the criminal underworld and tolerance and protection of his son, hatches a plan to trick Nikolai, now a full member of the vory, so that Nikolai would temporarily take Kirill's place during a meeting with a Turk named Azim, who killed the Chechen vory, at the baths. As Chechens attack Nikolai thinking he is Kirill, Nikolai kills them both, ending up in the hospital with severe wounds as a result. It is revealed near the end of the film that Nikolai is actually an FSB agent who has infiltrated the gang, working under license by the British Government. As part of his undercover duties, Nikolai was able to read Tatiana's diary before Semyon had it destroyed and hatched a plan to have Semyon arrested for statutory rape. Semyon orders Kirill to kidnap the baby girl and kill her but as Kirill sits by the Thames, preparing to throw the little girl into the river, Nikolai and Anna find him and persuade him to give the baby back. Nikolai and Kirill embrace as Nikolai tells him that his father is finished and they are now the bosses - Nikolai and Anna embrace and kiss as they part for the last time. Nikolai then takes Semyon's place as boss of the organization and Anna gains custody of Tatiana's baby whom Anna names Christine.