Branded

Subliminal advertising is taken to a whole new level in this strange sci-fi film from writers/directors Jamie Bradshaw and Aleksandr Dulerayn. Set in a post-wall fall Russia, it’s the story of a young man named Misha (Ed Stoppard) who discovers he has a talent – some might even say a calling – for advertising. His slogans and campaigns are not only successful, but are helping shape the way a post-Communist Russian people see themselves in the world. Good as he is, we soon learn that it’s not really Misha who makes all the ads work, but a shadowy conglomerate headed by the Marketing Guru (Max Von Sydow). So far, it sounds like a plot for a big business thriller, yes?  Well, be sure to buckle your seatbelt because you are in for one hell of a ride once Misha loses his job, performs an archaic ritual involving a bovine sacrifice and suddenly starts seeing just how attached people are to the brands he’s been selling them for years. Like Misha’s life, the movie careens wildly out of control for a while and it’s almost a matter of individual taste how one reacts to the ending. But, man what a trip!