Pu-239 (2006)

Pu-239 Poster

A worker at a Russian nuclear facility gets exposed to a lethal dose of radiation. In order to provide for his family, he steals some plutonium and sets out to sell it on Moscow's black market with the help of an incompetent criminal.

Film Overview
"PU-239", likewise known as "The Half Life of Timofey Berezin" originates from the year 2006 and is based upon a narrative by Ken Kalfus. It is a drama-thriller directed by Scott Z. Burns, marking its world premiere in the United States on HBO. The motion picture stars Paddy Considine as Timofey Berezin and Oscar Isaac as Shiv, providing a powerful narrative in the middle of the backdrop of post-Soviet Russia.

Plot Summary
Timofey Berezin, the lead character, is an employee at a Russian nuclear facility where a mishap exposes him to a deadly dose of radiation. Ignored by his superiors and denied proper medical treatment for his rapidly deteriorating health, Timofey is informed he has just days to live. Desperate to protect the future of his spouse Marina (Radha Mitchell) and young kid, he chooses to take a radical step.

Desperate Measures
Timofey steals a small amount of plutonium-239, one of the most dangerous and most important substances in the world, concealed securely in a small lead guard and attempts to sell it in Moscow. Here, he recklessly gets involved with small-time criminals and goes into the filthy underbelly of the city, marking a stark contrast to his prior life. Gets in Shiv, an ignorant, careless low-level mobster who believes that the plutonium is an effective narcotic that can help him get acknowledgment within the hierarchy of Russian organized crime.

The Heartbreaking Relationship
The movie develops an unlikely bond between Timofey and Shiv, each character ideated from starkly different worlds yet drawn together by their desperation and ambitions. Timofey wishes to sell the unsafe product to protect his family's future, whilst Shiv wishes to use it for his personal increase in the criminal world. The innocent yet impenetrable Shiv, knowledgeable about Timofey's upcoming death, forms an unexpected compassion as he earnestly tries to help him sell the plutonium.

Final Run
In an attempt to sell the deadly product, Timofey and Shiv encounter a succession of failures, deceits, and betrayals. Their exploits to avail the plutonium to possible purchasers eventually stop working, leaving their hopes squashed. Together with this, the film sheds light on the decay and corruption that has actually taken over post-Soviet Russian society.

Conclusion
The film ends on a poignant note with Timofey's death in a healthcare facility, his imagine attending to his household after his impending death left unfulfilled. Regardless of the dangerous and dark course he had selected, he deeply liked his family and looked for to secure them, even at the cost of his own life. On the other hand, in spite of being a small-time criminal, Shiv's unforeseen sensitivity and the bonding he forms with Timofey place him as a compelling foil in the story.

"PU-239" masterfully portrays the extreme realities of a post-Soviet period through the story of a desperate male and the lengths he goes to secure his household's future. The tragic narrative, the desperation of its characters, and their heartbreaking journeys make it not simply a thriller however also a critique of the social truths of that age.

Top Cast

  • Paddy Considine (small)
    Paddy Considine
    Timofey
  • Oscar Isaac (small)
    Oscar Isaac
    Shiv
  • Valeriu Pavel Dan
    Red Army Hero
  • Kenneth Bryans
    Prusokov
  • Radha Mitchell (small)
    Radha Mitchell
    Marina
  • Derek Hutchinson
    Facility Deputy
  • Mélanie Thierry (small)
    Mélanie Thierry
    Oxsana
  • Jordan Long (small)
    Jordan Long
    Yegor
  • Jason Flemyng (small)
    Jason Flemyng
    Vlad
  • Nikolaj Lie Kaas (small)
    Nikolaj Lie Kaas
    Tusk
  • Steven Berkoff (small)
    Steven Berkoff
    Starkov