Summaries

A guard on the Soviet-Chinese border who, after surviving a deadly attack, decides to become a monk but must continually prove along the way that he's capable of becoming the enlightened man he set out to be.

USSR-China border, 1973. Private Rafael is on guard duty when the border falls under attack from Chinese kung fu warriors. Rafael is the only one to miraculously survive; images of hippie looking fighters running along the branches, Black Sabbath playing on the team's portable radio, forever embedded in his memory. Later, when seeing similar-looking monks in a monastery yard, he has an epiphany and decides to become a monk himself. The road to achieving the almighty power of humility is long and winding, providing both comic and enlightening turns. The proud Rafael seems to have been given the gift of powerful prayer. Yet he has to prove to Father Melhisedek, the elder monk Nafanail, flirtatious Rita and his rival and adversary Irinei, that he is indeed capable of becoming the enlightened man who can unite power and tenderness.—Estonia Film Institute

Details

Keywords
  • 1970s
  • kung fu
  • soviet union
  • orthodox monk
  • soviet estonia
Genres
  • Action
  • Comedy
Release date Dec 7, 2023
Countries of origin Finland Greece Latvia Estonia
Language Russian Estonian
Filming locations Greece
Production companies Homeless Bob Production White Picture Neda Film

Box office

Budget $2700000
Gross US & Canada $14861
Opening weekend US & Canada $3217
Gross worldwide $14861

Tech specs

Runtime 1h 55m
Color Color
Aspect ratio

Synopsis

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