Burnt by the Sun (1994) - Nikita Mikhalkov 

Well the law of averages would say that if I see enough Mikhalkov films I'll eventually find one I like. Not to say anything against the previous three, but this one just clicked. What at first seemed to be an idyllic and nostalgic romp in the country (something not entirely new for Mikhalkov) turned very slowly into a sinister political film that slowly but surely made us more ill at ease. This can be seen as one of several in a series of critical films on the old Soviet system made shortly after its collapse but the film will still resonate well especially when coming from a member of its own system. All on the nature of heroes and how quickly and senselessly they can be removed and re-conditioned. Excellent cinematography and great acting around, particularly Mikhalkov's own daughter who plays Kotov's daughter in the film.