The Maid

“Give this thriller a chance — it’s not what it seems,” wrote Meduza (the leading news outlet for Russian émigrés) about the film.

A young woman desperately in need of money and housing takes a job as a housemaid for a wealthy family. Finding common ground with the mistress of the house becomes increasingly difficult: she’s clearly unstable and constantly picks on her. Her husband, however, is pure charm. He smooths over every conflict and seems to have taken a liking to Millie.

“For the first hour, we’re watching an old-fashioned thriller with an erotic undertone: a superhero husband, a neurotic wife, and a series of awkward scenes quickly convince us that this is a failed film — one where you don’t believe a single line or emotion. Then comes a moment of clarity. Once all the characters are forced to reveal their true desires and motives, The Housemaid transforms from a bundle of clichés into a coherent statement on a sharply relevant topic. Give The Housemaid time to reach its finale.”