''Bimmer'' ( rus, Бумер, p=ˈbumʲɪr, alternatively

Romanised Romanization or romanisation, in linguistics, is the conversion of text from a different writing system to the Roman (Latin) script, or a system for doing so. Methods of romanization include transliteration, for representing written text, and ...

as ''Bummer'' or ''Bumer'') is a

2003 File:2003 Events Collage.png, From top left, clockwise: The crew of STS-107 perished when the Space Shuttle Columbia disintegrated during reentry into Earth's atmosphere; SARS became an epidemic in China, and was a precursor to SARS-CoV-2; A ...

Russian

road movie A road movie is a film genre in which the main characters leave home on a road trip, typically altering the perspective from their everyday lives. Road movies often depict travel in the hinterlands, with the films exploring the theme of alienatio ...

directed by Peter Buslov, written by Peter Buslov and Denis Rodimin. The plot revolves around four friends who get into trouble with the law and flee Moscow in a black BMW (the eponymous " bimmer"). As the men drive across the Russian expanse, they encounter corruption, violence, poverty, and various situations characterizing the bleakness and challenges of small-town life in post-Soviet Russia. Considered to be not only an action film, but also a critique of the policies of

Boris Yeltsin Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin ( rus, Борис Николаевич Ельцин, p=bɐˈrʲis nʲɪkɐˈla(j)ɪvʲɪtɕ ˈjelʲtsɨn, a=Ru-Boris Nikolayevich Yeltsin.ogg; 1 February 1931 – 23 April 2007) was a Soviet and Russian politician wh ...

, ''Bimmer'' depicts the economic crisis that followed Russia's sudden transition to a

free market In economics, a free market is an economic system in which the prices of goods and services are determined by supply and demand expressed by sellers and buyers. Such markets, as modeled, operate without the intervention of government or any ot ...

economy, and with it, a lost generation of men who grow up in a world ruled by criminal gangs and corrupt law enforcement. Despite a modest budget of US$700,000, and a limited cinematic release, ''Bimmer'' became a national hit in

Russia Russia (, , ), or the Russian Federation, is a transcontinental country spanning Eastern Europe and Northern Asia. It is the largest country in the world, with its internationally recognised territory covering , and encompassing one-ei ...

, noted both for its cinematic quality and its soundtrack. Both the film and its soundtrack have won awards, including the Golden Aries from the

Russian Guild of Film Critics The Russian Guild of Film Critics (russian: Гильдия киноведов и кинокритиков России) is a Russian organization of professional film critics, headquartered in Moscow. Beginning in 1998, the guild began conferri ...

Plot

Four car thefts nicknamed Ramah, Cat, Dimon and Killa got in trouble and had to runaway from Moscow. On the road they got more and more trouble. At last, without money, without ability to connect with his friends they made attempt of robbery in small town but Ramah and Killa died, Cat caught by police and Dimon hide, leave his BMW in the forest.

Development

At the beginning of the film, it can be seen that the BMW which is being stolen belongs to a

Latvia Latvia ( or ; lv, Latvija ; ltg, Latveja; liv, Leţmō), officially the Republic of Latvia ( lv, Latvijas Republika, links=no, ltg, Latvejas Republika, links=no, liv, Leţmō Vabāmō, links=no), is a country in the Baltic region of ...

n or that the scene is actually meant to happen in Latvia, since the car has improvised 'LV' car license-plates on it. An alternative explanation is that the car was not legally imported into Russia and was being driven with Latvian plates to avoid customs duties. Some scenes of the film were filmed in the town of

Zvenigorod Zvenigorod (russian: Звени́город) is an old town in Moscow Oblast, Russia. Population: History The town's name is based either on a personal name (cf. Zvenislav, Zvenimir) or on a hydronym (cf. the Zvinech, Zvinyaka, Zveniga Rivers) ...

. The musical theme of the film is the

ringtone A ringtone, ring tone or ring is the sound made by a telephone to indicate an incoming call. Originally referring to and made by the electromechanical striking of bells, the term now refers to any sound on any device alerting of a new incoming ...

of Kostya's cell phone.

Sequel

In 2006, ''Bimmer: Film Vtoroy'', a sequel to ''Bimmer'', was released.''Bummer: Film Vtoroy''
at IMDb It was directed by Peter Buslov and written by Kim Belov, Peter Buslov, Denis Rodimin and

Ivan Vyrypaev Ivan Aleksandrovich Vyrypaev (russian: Ива́н Алекса́ндрович Вырыпа́ев; pl, Iwan Wyrypajew; born August 3, 1974) is a Polish, Russian-born playwright, screenwriter, film director, actor and art director. He is a leadi ...

. The film proved to be commercially successful, taking in nearly US$14,000,000 at the box office, even though it didn't have the same positive reviews as the first one. A computer game was released in the same year, titled ''Bimmer: Torn Towers''.

References

External links

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Screenshots
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bimmer (Film) 2003 films 2003 crime drama films Gangster films Russian road movies Russian crime drama films 2000s road movies Films about automobiles Films set in Moscow Films shot in Moscow Oblast