Gorky Park (1983)

Directed by: Michael Apted | 124 minutes | thriller, crime | Actors: William Hurt, Lee Marvin, Joanna Pacula, Brian Dennehy, Ian Bannen, Michael Elphick, Richard Griffiths, Rikki Fulton, Alexander Knox, Alexei Sayle, Ian McDiarmid

Under the watchful eye of Lenin, Detective Renko drives his little Lada through a snowy Moscow. It is 1983 and the Iron Curtain is still standing proudly. At a time when silence and consent can save lives, Renko does just the opposite. He talks, investigates and kicks holy houses.

Director Michael Apted captures this chilly, subdued atmosphere in a beautiful way. Fur hats, Lada’s and lots of snow contribute to a gray-grey Moscow. But it is mainly the subdued dialogues that make the capital of the Soviet Union an unpleasant place. Nobody trusts each other. Conversations between police officers and KGB men are extremely cool and nothing more is said than is strictly necessary.

In that atmosphere, Renko has to look for his killer. He gets little help with that. Only his immediate boss is willing to support him. With that assurance, the detective starts his investigation, opening a cesspool that might have been better left closed. The Secret Service seems involved in the case and that could cost him his life.

The plot of ‘Gorky Park’ is well put together. Until the end, it remains unclear who is responsible for what and why. Of course, that’s how it should be in a thriller, but in Hollywood that’s the exception rather than the rule these days.

William Hurt plays an incorruptible Renko who only settles for the truth. He sometimes comes across as a bit wooden, but in doing so reinforces the unpleasant atmosphere in Russian society at the time of communism. Lee Marvin is on a roll as a charming but arrogant American trader who likes to be feted by his Russian business partners. Joanna Pacula plays Irina, an unpredictable character whose role remains uncertain for a long time.

There is little to fault about ‘Gorky Park’. It’s a slow movie, but that’s a positive point in this case. The makers have taken the time to flesh out the story and build the suspense. The acting is good and the plot is well put together. Unfortunately, such productions are hardly made anymore.