I saw Bigga Than Ben at the Edinburgh Film Festival and previously at Cinequest. The first hour is genuinely hilarious, the very black comedy outlining the difficulty any immigrant faces when arriving to a place you assume has pavements in gold, only to crash and burn with the slow realization this city wants nothing to do with you or your efforts (been there). Ben Barnes is brilliant as the Russian who slowly develops a conscience as the world changes him while Andrei Chadov is totally sympathetic - against the odds - as the hopeless (racist) sidekick unable to get a grip on his life as things go South. It won't be for everyone as it is unabashedly non-PC 'How did I, Nazi hooligan and scum, become a n-lover'but in a world bending over backwards not to offend ANYONE, it's a relief to find a film willing to explore and question stereotypes. Ultimately, as Spiker (Chadov) and Cobakka (Barnes) find themselves helped only by those who they previously stereotyped themselves, they learn both from their new acquaintances and each other what true friendship (or a lack of it) can mean. Poignant as well as funny and the characters stay with you. I often wonder what they're up to now.
Review of Bigga Than Ben
