Eastern Promises, directed by David Cronenberg, premiered in 2007 is a compelling story that utilizes and explicitly gives some insight into a very taboo and under publicized subject matter. The film addresses the abduction and use of European Young girls that are forced into prostitution. If violence begets realism then Eastern Promises is as real as it gets. Cronenberg’s taste for delivering imagery unlike any seen before is evident in this film mainly the fight scenes. In particular of those scenes, the bathhouse fight sequence transcends the realism of violence in films, as we know it. The bathhouse brawl is so intimidating and realistic that some reviewers described it as difficult to watch. Every punch, cut, crack, scream, and impalement is shocking in its intensity. Eastern Promises does a fantastic job incorporating intricate details to establish the level of realism. The film uses realism to divulge the little known and violent lifestyle of the Russian mafia.
I agree that this film is indeed very rich in realism and Cornenberg executed the realistic qualities of the fight scenes, especially the scene in the bath house. The way that scene is filmed you feel the vulnerablity of Nicolai as he is ambushed in the bathhouse in the nude. However, he fends off his attackers giving into his vulnerablity and through this scene we see how strong and devoted Nicolai is to his position in the Mafia. I also agree that the realism in the film sheds light onto a real problem that is seen with human trafficking and young women trapped in the violent ring of protistution.
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