Can't really add much to the many stellar reviews this one truly deserves. Remembering how i was smitten by it almost 10 years ago, I watched it again recently with the kids and it rocked them proper. An amazing novel of rare depth in the first place, and Bortko did a great job of adapting it for the screen. The cast are mostly household names from various eras of Russian theater and movie. It's a pity some reviewers said the English subs are not that good, this film deserves perfect, try to find the best you can. If you like it, here's a couple Russian titles to follow up:
Bortko's Heart of a Dog http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096126/
and
The Return http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376968/
Bortko's Heart of a Dog http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0096126/
and
The Return http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0376968/