LastingAware The greatest movie ever!

Steineded How sad is this?

Keeley Coleman The thing I enjoyed most about the film is the fact that it doesn't shy away from being a super-sized-cliche;

Francene Odetta It's simply great fun, a winsome film and an occasionally over-the-top luxury fantasy that never flags.

Roland E. Zwick Lana and Darko are a brother and sister who escape war torn Bosnia by hiding in a metal storage container on a cargo ship headed for the United States. Lana is a sweet, innocent young woman who has witnessed a great deal of personal tragedy in her life, while Darko is a well known mobster who is basically running for his life from forces who are out to get him. After an arduous trip across the Atlantic, the two settle down in Chicago to start a new life in America. When they fall on hard times, Darko decides to pimp his sister out for money while his dark past begins slowly but surely to catch up with him.Although it aspires to be a gritty film about real people struggling to survive in a harsh environment, "Lana's Rain" comes across as an overwrought melodrama, poorly acted and even more poorly directed. The story is so filled with theatrical flourishes that little of what we see actually rings true. Just a minor case in point: towards the beginning of the film, as the unloaded crate in which they are hiding is speeding its way from the east coast to Chicago, Lana and Darko look through a hole in the side, and lo and behold what do they happen to see passing by but the capitol building in Washington D.C.! I'm surprised director Michael S. Ojeda was able to resist throwing in shots of the Statue of Liberty, Mount Rushmore and the Grand Canyon as well. Unfortunately, this relatively insignificant gaffe becomes symptomatic of the film as a whole which is all too often willing to sacrifice plausibility for the sake of dramatic effect."Lana's Rain" is a serious missed opportunity, for what could have been a meaningful and sensitive film on an important subject turns into a series of hokey dime-store novel vignettes instead.

xavrush89 This film is better and grittier than many dramas with ten times the budget, and there are plenty of suspenseful moments to keep even the most indie-phobic skeptic intrigued. Oksana Orlenko (who won an award in Milan for her performance) and Nickolai Stoilov are seamless as the charismatic leads, while Michael S. Ojeda's direction makes the best use of their talents and the skills of his cinematographer (Gennadi Balitski), as well as his own script.I disagree with the one reviewer (out of ten so far) who didn't like the "execution" of this film. I think it is a perfect mix of action scenes that grab you, and intense character-driven dramatic moments that allow for time to take in all that has happened. Ojeda really captures the sense of peril one feels without a dime and no place to go. That gash in Lana's forehead on the film's poster gives an idea of how deep the film is, and the roller-coaster ride awaiting anyone who watches it. I wish I had seen it in the theater. Grade: A

rsattar_1999 Great movie I find the movie very compelling. It looks like European movie. Lot of action and unexpected twists. I enjoyed realistically portrayed characters. They look like some people I know. It is a Non-Hollywood rendition of problems that really happen in today's world. I'm getting over-saturated with unrealistic story plots and fantasy characters. Reality is more interesting than that garbage. And this movie hits it pretty darn close. It is on a rare occasion that you can enjoy the grittiness of back streets and alleys, with the twisted reality that looms over the inhabitants. You can't help but to feel a sympathy with Darko (designated bad guy), and like Lana who, left with nothing, finally manages to break free. And you are on the edge of the seat the whole time. That's what I call a great movie!Summary: Go Lana go! This girl is tough, you know! To break free in spite of all the obstacles she was facing - not speaking any language, not knowing where to turn, with nobody to relay on, whoa! This movie is really something. The funny thing is that all the girls in the audience were crying, that's how strong of the impression the movie made. You enter at the opening credits, and your attention is suddenly released at the end. And you are magnetically connected the whole time. It is a BIG movie, in spite of its small budget. It is here to stay!

itpphoto This was an intriguing suspenseful movie with a great soundtrack. Excellent photography. One of my favorite shots is just after the main characters have traveled to America in a ramshackle shipping container and open the doors to.... well I won't spoil it for you. Some words that might be used to describe this film might me; gritty, shocking, captivating, metamorphic, gripping, and resilient. It combines elements from many film categories like, action, suspenseful and historical dramas, a real thriller with a dark transformation plot.This is the tragic story of Lana who was betrayed by her own brother. But just when things seem bleakest for Lana, her hope for a new life.... well I won't spoil it for you.Take the time to find it and see it.