BuskFilms continue to provide us with great films for less than the price of a cuppa. This time out it’s the Russian film A Sister’s Kiss, which is a great little film. There’s just one huge problem, why did they call it that? Seriously, it just gives the game away. It tells the story of two teenagers who fall in love; awkward rebel wannabe Anya and Misha who just wants to meet someone decent. They meet and it’s love, but then they find out that they are sisters.

Ick. I know! Ick!

See, if we didn’t know that they were sisters, we could go along and be all “aaaahhh would ya look at the wee cuties”, but we know from the start because of that damn title. Therefore, throughout the film it’s really hard to get over the ick factor. What could have been an OMG twist in the tale is stolen from the viewer by the director and he doesn’t do himself any favours.

It’s such a pity too as the two actresses are just great, the characters are loveable and the lovestory warm and engaging. The direction, though, is a bit on the farty side of arty, and the subtitles are so awful they are hilarious:

Anya: “Are you a lesbian by accident?”  I think she meant “by any chance” but you never know.

Having said all of that, I was hooked; emotionally and dramatically. This is writer/director Dmitry Gribanoff’s first feature-length film and it bodes well for the future, I’ll certainly be looking out for his name.

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