From the brilliant cinematography of the opening scene, this movie declares itself as a masterpiece. I watched it at the edge my seat till the end, laughing and crying for Emir Kusturica's Sergei, a bear of a man and hating my beloved Willem Defoe's blood curdling CIA chief Finn. Guillaume Canet as Pierre Froment is also very good, maddeningly naive and equally lovable; in fact movie is full of living and breathing real characters, although unfortunately all women are slightly shadowy compared to men. I loved the exquisite detail to the period with clothes, hair, glasses and atmosphere, particularly in Moscow. The story was grippingly interesting and every single scene, every bit of dialogue believable. I feel enriched for having watched L'affaire Farewell, Merci Christian Carion.
