Based on true events “Kompromat,” French director Jérôme Salle offers a glimpse at the true story behind an international scandal. After Russian agents arrest a French diplomat in Siberia under shady circumstances, he enters the notorious Russian prison system. But after the diplomat escapes from jail and returns to France, he sets up a standoff between the two countries.
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“Kompromat” takes inspiration from real events. In February 2015, Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agents arrested French diplomat Yoann Barbereau in front of his daughter. The Russian government never made clear why Barbereau so quickly fell out of favor with local authorities, but the diplomat’s involvement with the Alliance Francaise, which saw him organize cultural events and encourage artistic expression in Siberia, is the likely reason. In any case, once in custody, Barbereau fell victim to kompromat, or “compromising material,” a term that dates back to the Stalin era, leading to his detention in the Russian prison system. However, after several years, Barbereau somehow escaped, and, after returning to France, which started an international scandal. Now Salle brings Barbereau’s story to the big screen.
“Kompromat” stars Gilles Lellouche, Joanna Kulig, Louis-Do de Lencquisang, Michael Gor, and Alexei Gorbunov. Elisa Lasowski, Daniil Vorobyov, and Judith Henry also star. Alongside directing, Salle also co-pens the film’s script with Caryl Ferey. American audiences best know Salle as the director of 2013’s “Zulu” with Orlando Bloom and Forest Whitaker.
“Kompromat” is sure to spur conversation due to current events like Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and the country’s dwindling relations with the West. The film hits theaters on January 27 courtesy of Magnet Releasing. It also premieres on video on demand the same day. Watch a trailer for “Kompromat” below.
