Movie Digest
The film is the third in Xu Zheng’s “Lost in” trilogy, following Lost in Thailand and Lost in Hong Kong, albeit the plots and characters are unconnected. The film chronicles the narrative of a manipulative mother and her middle-aged son on their unpleasant journey to Russia aboard the K3 train. Xu Zheng stars as the lead actor and the director of the film.
The Feel-Good Part
Xu, known for his comedic chops, stated that his objective was to get viewers to think about the frequently amusing yet very caring nature of the mother-child relationship in China. As a result, you get to see the mother-son duo’s fits, highs and lows as you relate to the same. It has touching scenes that make you miss your mother/son.
The Disappointing Factor
The ‘Lost In’ film, like the other ones, does not disappoint, as it draws you to expect the unexpected, even though the mother-son scenes feel excessively stretched.
In-Depth Analysis
The film does not shy away from discussing darker issues such as divorce and domestic abuse, which adds a commendable level of emotional depth. Beyond emotions, Lost in Russia pays homage to some of the “biggest hits” of Sino-Russian cultural interaction and includes much of the Russian landscape. However, it also emphasises China’s and Russia’s superficial relationship. There is just one (Chinese-speaking) Russian character in the film, and his entire role is to be a dangerously stereotyped “honeypot” who makes Xu think about his divorce. Otherwise, Russian people, culture, and places are only for show.
Star Power
Huang Meiying (as the mother) and Xu Zheng (as the son) have tremendous chemistry, and both of their personalities grow significantly during the journey. Both must learn to reconcile love and independence, and Lost in Russia provides various learning moments for that purpose, such as an attack by a mother-son bear pair.
Overall Opinion
The film will undoubtedly make you cry at points, but it will also leave you with puzzles and surprising twists.
