Siberia is a romantic thriller directed by Matthew Ross. It follows Lucas Hill (Keanu Reeves), an American diamond merchant, as his diamond sale falls apart, and he enters into a relationship with Katya (Ana Ularu), the owner of a small Russian cafe.
The Mixing of Genres Had Potential
Siberia begins with potential, but as the film goes along, the focus becomes more and more on the romantic plot. This could have been an interesting take on the genre, but I felt as if the plot of the film suffered from its focus.
When the first began, I instantly became interested in the mystery and thriller aspects of the film. The early scenes do a good job of establishing the plot in a natural, yet exciting way. I thought it was an interesting choice to have the main character be as unaware about the events as the audience.
Once Katya, the romantic lead, is introduced, the film becomes very focused on this aspect of the film. In the earlier scenes, where the two meet in the cafe she owns are nice, but once the relationship begins, it becomes too focused on obsession. Ana Ularu and Keanu Reeves work well together in their scenes, but I didn’t enjoy the development of the relationship. I thought the way their relationship started could have lead to a more interesting and unique film.
The earlier scenes they shared made me interested in how it would develop. Katya was the one to initiate the relationship, and I particularly enjoyed scenes where they had a banter of sorts about not hating each other yet, but this quickly falls away.
As the film tried to blend the romantic and thriller genres, it seemed to think the only way to do this was to make the romance darker than what the earlier scenes expressed. I wouldn’t say any of the film or relationship is light, but when the film began, I wasn’t expecting such a departure from a budding relationship into something where no matter how badly the characters treated each other, they would emotionally hug and wind back in a bed, bathtub, or anywhere else to initiate intimate moments.
The thriller aspect felt secondary, which could have worked, if the romance was more captivating. In one moment in particular, I felt the romance was both given more attention than the main plot, but also was used to create tension in the main plot, but not in a very good way. The tension established in some scenes made me feel terribly for Katya, instead of feeling anything romantic about the film.
One of my problems with the romance was how the characters always came back after unforgivable moments, and I think this could work if the previous development made me believe the characters cared for each other more than a relationship of convenience. I felt like this development could have happened after the beginning scenes of their relationship, but the romantic development was exchanged for intimate moments.
Maybe the film is worth it if you are mostly interested in seeing Reeves and Ularu in these type of moments. I personally felt some of the best visuals of the film were in these moments, especially one in a bathtub with close-ups against the green tile of the walls. But the film had just as many scenes that were rough and harsh, making me want this couple to get as far away from each other as they can.
An Underdeveloped and Tonally Confusing Villain
When Siberia does spend more time focusing on its diamond merchant plot-line, I felt the villains were a strange mix of serious and the type of over-the-top villain you’d see in a comedy.
One moment stood out where I could not figure out if the scene was supposed to be played as a joke, albeit a bad one, or if it was supposed to be a serious moment, showing how Pasha D. Lychnikoff’s villain Boris is far removed from polite society and knowing what is appropriate or not. This scene in particular reminded me of something the characters in a comedy would say, but not actually go through with, and if they did, it would be consensual, and not a way to use women against their will.
This scene really pulled me out of the film because it was such a ridiculous concept. Part of me thought showing a scene like this in a realistic film rather than a comedy shows the real harm and sexually abusive nature, but the tone of the scene still felt like the filmmakers wanted you to laugh at the man saying it, and not feel the fear of the woman who is being taken advantage of.
In addition to scenes like this, the film did not do much in any other scenes to establish the villain. Nothing about the character felt unique to this film, but a conglomeration of villains from any action film you have seen in your life.
A Mediocre Film With a Strong Ending
One of the best aspects of Siberia is its ending. The final scene is what I imagine the poster and trailer is making the audience expect from the entire film. Throughout most of the film, the romantic plot takes center-stage, and the thriller plot slowly unravels.
Ending the film with the most action-packed moment of the film is a powerful choice. Keanu Reeves stands out in this scene, and makes me wish the entire film could have been more like this. I also think the way the film ends is a strong and unique decision, and made me feel better about the way the relationship and characters are represented throughout the film.
Keanu Reeves gives a strong performance as a character primarily concerned with his own survival, while Ana Ularu portrays a character who takes what she wants, until the film decides to throw this away and makes Katya a punching bag for the villain, with Lucas going along with it to protect his own interests.
Siberia: Conclusion
Siberia has its moments, especially in the performances of its leads Ana Ularu and Keanu Reeves, but the film is ultimately a confounding mess of genres and tones. Siberia starts with a strong beginning, slowly falls apart across its middle, and concludes with a memorable and enjoyable ending.
Are you planning on seeing Siberia? What are some of your favorite films that blend thriller and romance? Tell us your thoughts in the comments below!
Siberia will be released in the US on July 13, 2018. For all international release dates, see here.
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