Patient No. 1 (2023)
A taut Soviet-era political drama in which a dying General Secretary's grip on power outlasts his grip on life.
Patient No. 1 - Movie Information
- Original Title: Пациент №1
- Release Year: 2023
- Directed by: Rezo Gigineishvili
- Type: Movie
- Genres: Drama
- Runtime: 1h 54m
- Original Language: Russian
- Spoken Languages: Russian
- Production Companies: Independent Film Project
- Production Countries: Georgia, Russia
- Alternative Titles: Patient #1 (US), Пациент #1 (RU)
Patient No. 1 - Plot
The end of the Soviet empire. The General Secretary lies in the government clinic. He is old and frail, but has a tight grip on power. "The power is only taken, it is never given away," he repeats. And it is convenient for both the elites and the secret services -- while the "body" is alive, various groups are scoring their political points. The General Secretary is "sentenced to life". A young nurse Sasha looks after him. Small, fragile and invisible, she bears a heavy burden of responsibility for the life of the country's top official. Meanwhile, the old man is waging a war in Afghanistan, has a nuclear button and can take the entire world to the grave with him.
Patient No. 1 - Trailer
Watch the official trailer and see the world of Patient No. 1 come to life:
Patient No. 1 - Cast & Crew
Director(s)
- Rezo Gigineishvili
Main Cast
- Aleksandr Filippenko
- Olga Makeeva
- Inna Churikova
- Igor Chernevich
- Sergey Gilev
- Vladimir Steklov
- Irina Kupchenko
- Sergey Styopin
- Mariya Shalaeva
Writers
- Rezo Gigineishvili
- Alexandr Rodionov
Producers
- Archil Gelovani
- Sergey Yahontov
Patient No. 1 - FAQs
What is Patient No. 1 about?
Patient No. 1 is set during the final days of the Soviet Union, where an aging General Secretary clings to power from his hospital bed. A young nurse named Sasha tends to him while political factions scheme around his fading body. It's a tense, intimate portrait of power, mortality, and complicity.
Is Patient No. 1 based on a true story?
The film draws heavily on the real historical context of the Soviet Union's final years, evoking leaders like Leonid Brezhnev or Konstantin Chernenko — men who governed while visibly ill. The characters are fictional, but the political atmosphere and power dynamics are rooted in documented Soviet history.
Who plays the General Secretary in Patient No. 1?
Aleksandr Filippenko takes on the role of the ailing General Secretary — a commanding performance of a man simultaneously powerful and utterly dependent. His portrayal captures the grotesque irony of a leader who controls nuclear weapons yet cannot stand without help.
Who directed Patient No. 1 and what else has he made?
Rezo Gigineishvili, a Georgian filmmaker, directed Patient No. 1. He is best known internationally for Hostages (2017), which won the Crystal Globe at Karlovy Vary. His work consistently explores political tension and human cost, and Patient No. 1 continues that thematic thread with striking intimacy.
Who are the main actors in Patient No. 1?
The film features Aleksandr Filippenko as the General Secretary and Olga Makeeva as Sasha, the young nurse at the story's heart. The supporting cast includes Inna Churikova, Vladimir Steklov, Irina Kupchenko, Igor Chernevich, Sergey Gilev, Sergey Styopin, and Mariya Shalaeva.
What is the tone and style of Patient No. 1?
Patient No. 1 blends political drama with dark, almost absurdist undertones. The film is claustrophobic by design — much of it unfolds within the walls of a government clinic — and cinematographer Petr Bratersky uses tight framing to mirror the suffocating nature of Soviet power structures.
Is Patient No. 1 worth watching for fans of political drama?
Absolutely. If you enjoy slow-burn political films like The Death of Stalin or stories that examine power through intimate human moments, Patient No. 1 delivers. It's a quietly devastating portrait of a system that keeps a dying man alive not out of compassion, but out of political convenience.
What are some movies similar to Patient No. 1?
Fans of Patient No. 1 might enjoy My Friend Ivan Lapshin (1985) for its Soviet-era atmosphere, A Driver for Vera (2004) for its political tension, or My Neighbor Adolf (2022) for its dark historical character study. The Coach (2018) and Vanya on 42nd Street (1994) are also worth exploring.
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