This Spielberg film is adored in Russia and even considered a cult film, but is despised in the US

“The Terminal” is a comedy-drama film directed by Steven Spielberg, released in 2004, starring Tom Hanks and Catherine Zeta-Jones, and is simply adored in Russia (although for good reason).

The film is partly based on the true story of Iranian refugee Mehran Karimi Naseri, who lived at Charles de Gaulle Airport in Paris from 1988 to 2006.
In the film, however, many of the events were fictionalized for artistic effect.

For the filming of the movie, a full-scale replica of the airport was built in a hangar. This large-scale set included shops, cafes and waiting areas, giving the feeling of a real international airport.

Some scenes are improvised. For example, the scene where Victor builds a bed out of waiting room chairs was completely improvised by Tom Hanks.

Despite mixed reviews from critics, the film was warmly received by the audience and was nominated for several awards. Particularly praised were Tom Hanks’ performance and Spielberg’s direction. But for some reason, the film did not receive the necessary recognition in the US.

Here are the reviews of Russian viewers about the film: “The film teaches us many important things, such as love, friendship, self-sacrifice and patience. He describes Victor Navorsky (Tom Hanks) as a character who captivates with his creativity and kindness, and also causes laughter and tears. ‘ ‘The film shows that love and innocence can still work wonders in our complex world. He added that it is one of those films that you can watch again and again.”

Frame from the movie “Terminal”

And here are the reviews from those who saw the film in the US: “The film is oversimplified and lacks seriousness. The plot is predictable and lacks tension, and the characters seem cartoonish. “The Terminal” tries to be both a comedy and a drama, but fails to succeed in both genres that Steven Spielberg and Tom Hanks could not create something more meaningful with so many resources. ‘ ‘The situation in which someone is stuck in an airport for a long time can be interesting, but in the film it becomes a naive fairy tale. ‘ ‘The film did not meet expectations. Overrated nonsense. ‘

These are the curiosities of two mentalities. Did you like the photo? Share your feedback in the comments.