
Lilya 4-Ever
2002 · Movie · R · 109 min · ★ 7.6 · 84% critics
In a struggling post-Soviet community, a teenage girl is left behind when her mother relocates to the United States. Alone, she faces neglect and poverty, but a promised job in Sweden gives her hope for a better life—setting her on a journey that changes everything.
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Watch free on Kanopy and Cineverse — also streaming on Philo, Fandor and BFI Player Classics.
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Details
- Original title
- Lilja 4-ever
- Years
- 2002
- Release date
- 2002-08-23
- Language
- Swedish
- Rated
- R
- Runtime
- 109 min
- Critic score
- 84/100
- TMDB rating
- 7.6/10 (668 votes)
About
Expect a bleak, disturbing drama with a relentless emotional punch; Not for you if you want an uplifting, mainstream ride like City of God or Fish Tank.
Pros: devastatingly emotional; realistic and bleak; strong performances | Cons: draining misfortune; harsh subject matter; heavy and unrelenting
Themes
- suicide
- escape
- underground
- despair
- sweden
- nightclub
- human trafficking
- based on true story
- poverty
- prostitution
- sex trafficking
- sex slavery
- +6 more
Awards & recognition
- Greta
- International Submission to the Academy Awards · 2003 · nominated
- European Film Award — Best Film · 2002 · nominated
- European Film Award — Best Actress · 2002 · nominated
Cast & crew

Oksana Akinshina
as Lilja

Artyom Bogucharsky
as Volodja

Ljubov Agapova
as Lilja's Mother

Liilia Šinkarjova
as Aunt Anna

Elina Benenson
as Natasha

Pavel Ponomaryov
as Andrei
- TN
Tomasz Neuman
as Witek

Anastasiya Bedredinova
as Neighbor

Tõnu Kark
as Sergei

Nikolai Bentsler
as Natasha's Boyfriend
Directed by Lukas Moodysson