Although Sean Baker’s Palme d’Or-winning indie sensation Anora has been getting rave reviews for Mikey Madison’s lead performance ever since its debut, one of the most surprising narratives within this year’s awards season cycle has been the popularity of Yura Borisov. Borisov’s role as the gruff, yet surprisingly gentle Russian henchman Igor is silent for a majority of the film but ends up playing a significant role within the story’s conclusion. Anora offers a different perspective on romance, and Borisov’s subtle, yet deeply affecting work is the main reason that the film holds up so well upon repeated viewings. Although it is great to see all the accolades that have come his way for Anora, Borisov first proved himself to be a charismatic romantic lead in the underrated drama Compartment No. 6.
What Is ‘Compartment No. 6’ About?
Similar to classical “meet cute” romantic films like Brief Encounter or Before Sunrise, Compartment No. 6 explores a surprising connection that forms between two strangers who are forced to stay with one another during a train ride from Moscow to Murmansk. The Finnish student Laura (Seidi Haarla) is preparing to study the Kanozero Petroglyphs as a part of her archeological research but is also recovering from a wounded heart after her lover, Irina (Dinara Drukarova), decided not to join her on the expedition. Borisov stars as Ljoha, an icy Russian miner who has taken the empty compartment space that Irina was intended to occupy. Laura and Ljoha could not be more different, and their frustration amidst cultural differences quickly sparks arguments. However, the long train ride also gives them time to gradually get to know one another, leading to the sparks of romance.
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Compartment No. 6 takes an inventive twist on a familiar narrative, as it does not present an idealized version of either character. Laura is often quite reductive in how she views people with different backgrounds and can occasionally feel slightly pretentious due to how immersed she is in high-level education; conversely, Ljoha is often quite rude and is prone to making inappropriate comments about Laura in order to amuse himself. Although initially being forced to stay within close company with each other makes Laura and Ljoha feel very dispirited, they begin to realize that talking to someone is better than keeping all of their anxieties internalized. Laura ultimately realizes that she just needs someone to listen to her who can give her raw, unfiltered advice; although Ljoha proves to be a great listener, he is also willing to be entirely honest in a way that becomes deeply resonant. Despite his tough exterior, Ljoha ends up being an incredibly sensitive, thoughtful character who proves to be far more compassionate than initially expected.
‘Compartment No. 6’ Shows Yura Borisov at His Most Charismatic
Borisov is able to add a surprising amount of humor to a character that initially appears to be entirely self-serious, as Compartment No. 6 is quite honest in its examination of awkward interactions. Although the structure is inherited from many classic films from the Golden Age of Hollywood, Compartment No. 6 shows just how claustrophobic it can be to spend what feels like eternity in a confined space. There are some flashbacks that explore earlier events in Laura’s life, but Ljoha’s background is only revealed through his personal anecdotes. As a result, the viewer gets to become just as enamored with listening to Ljoha talk about himself as Laura does.
Borisov is able to show a more sensitive male character who is initially unwilling to discuss the baggage that he is dealing with. While it is revealed early on that Laura feels incredibly lonely as she faces the next stage of her life, Ljoha is similarly anxious, as he is among the first generation of workers that is coming of age in the aftermath of the Soviet Union’s collapse. Despite their vast differences, Laura and Ljoha are united by their economic vulnerability. Compartment No. 6 is not toothless in examining the insurmountable pressure that is placed upon young people to determine what their futures will look like, but Borisov is so utterly transfixing that the film ultimately plays out in an optimistic manner.
Compartment No. 6 is available to rent on Amazon Prime in the U.S.
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