Fridae

This extraordinary film was shown three years ago at the Singapore
International Film Festival. But those who caught it never ever
forgot it. When writer-director Lukas Moodyson called it ?em>Lilya-4-Ever?
he wasn't kidding about the ?-Ever?bit. This film won more than
a dozen awards around the world. It deserved every award it received,
and probably a few more — yes, it's that good.

Luminous young actress Oksana Akinshina plays 16-year-old Lilya,
whose life in Moscow is no bed of roses. As Russia continues to
languish in economic doldrums, its people are desperate to search
for a better life. So when Lilya's irresponsible mother abandons
her to live in America, Lilya is forced to fend for herself.

For a pretty 16-year-old girl like her, it means performing sexual
favors on older men to make money. It isn't so bad at first. Lilya
keeps her spirits up by hanging out with her friends. But fate is
relentlessly cruel. And by the time the film ends, you may change
the way you look at teenage prostitutes forever — be they
in Russia or Bangkok or India.

If you see only one film every few months, make Lilya-4-Ever
the film that you see.