Rob Lowe and James Franco Star in Stalinist Russia Drama 'Confessions'

Rob Lowe and James Franco star in the new film Confessions, which opens with a slow and dialogue-heavy pace. The movie is currently in the news cycle as a challenging viewing experience despite its notable cast.

Czech filmmaker Václav Marhoul directed the project based on an original screenplay by Ben Shapiro. Shapiro’s Daily Wire media company handles distribution, a detail that may influence how audiences approach the film before the first scene begins.

Lowe plays Alexi, a former literature professor working a dead-end job at the Ministry of Transport in Stalinist Russia. The narrative begins with Alexi licking spilled vodka from the floor of his apartment, a visual cue that establishes his discontent and need for redemption.

Alexi is arrested and sent to the Lubyanka Prison in Moscow on charges of counterrevolutionary activities. He is accused of helping a dissident Eastern Orthodox priest publish pamphlets criticizing the Soviet system. His interrogator, Vladimir, is played by Franco and happens to be one of Alexi’s former students.

Vladimir uses discussions about Russian literary giants like Dostoyevsky and Tolstoy to engage Alexi. He mixes friendly cajolery with veiled threats, pressuring Alexi to sign a confession regarding the priest’s pamphlets. Vladimir offers Alexi a chance to reunite with his wife, played by Jennifer Jason Leigh, and his estranged adult son, played by Kodi Smit-McPhee.

Alexi remains resolute in his refusal to sign, even with these personal stakes raised. This stubbornness leads to more brutal interrogation tactics. The film reveals late in the story that Vladimir’s assignment was not a coincidence but the result of a shared history between the two men.

The story also touches on Alexi’s internal religious conflict, as he views the ordeal as a way to solidify his attachment to Jesus Christ. Critics note that while the performances are strong, some plot elements feel derivative. A scene where Alexi meets his wife in the interrogation room draws comparisons to John Frankenheimer’s 1968 film The Fixer. Another scene features Nick Nolte as a fellow prisoner describing the 1930s famine in Ukraine, a moment some view as a heavy-handed attempt to score emotional points.