Prometey: A strange, heavy, beautiful mess

Is this for you?

If you want a fast-paced thriller, stay away. Seriously. But if you have a thing for historical films that feel like they’ve been dragged through the dirt and pulled out of a fever dream, you might actually like this.

It’s a dense watch. It doesn't hold your hand. If you prefer movies like Blockade that prioritize the weight of history over clear-cut hero arcs, you’ll find plenty to stare at here.

The Visuals Feel Like Granite

Kavaleridze treats the screen like a sculpture. The faces in this thing are incredible—so much texture. Every shot of the merchant class feels intentionally suffocating, almost like the frame is trying to squeeze the air out of the room.

There is this one sequence where the light hits the serfs, and it looks like a painting that someone forgot to finish. I loved that. It feels raw and slightly off-balance.

The Pacing Is… A Lot

The movie moves in its own time. Sometimes it just sits there. It lingers on a gaze or a crumbling wall for five seconds too long, and you start to wonder if the projectionist fell asleep. But then, it clicks. You realize the silence is the point.

It’s not trying to be Million Dollar Baby. It’s not trying to hit beats. It’s just trying to exist.

• The revolutionary agitators look like they haven't slept in weeks.
• The way the wealth inequality is shown isn't subtle, but it's effective.
• I swear there's a background extra in the third act who is just waiting for the lunch break.

Final Thoughts (Sort of)

Is it a masterpiece? Probably not. It’s too clunky for that. But it has this haunting quality that keeps popping into my head days later.

Maybe it’s the way the music clashes with the visuals. Maybe it’s just the sheer stubbornness of the editing. Either way, it’s a film that demands you pay attention, even when it’s not really sure where it’s going. Just don't go in expecting a history lesson that flows smoothly. It’s more of a blunt instrument. ⚒️