Eastern Promises: Review By justincase

Mortensen and Watts dig deep and deliver in this moving tale of the dark underbelly of the Russian mafia.

After Watts, a midwife, delivers the child of a doomed 14 year-old mother who'd been raped, she begins to unspool the tale behind this most unfortunate delivery.

Meanwhile, Mortensen, a functionary in the Russian mob is working to earn his "stars" the symbol of being "made" into the family he works for.

When their paths cross, further tragedy is virtually guaranteed.

At a pace that is engaging and comfortable, the tale winds through the depths of Russian mob life and emerges hopeful, if not triumphant.

Dimly lit and, at times, "weighty", this is one film that overdelivers with great acting and direction played to a suitably above par story.

A recommended watch!