The Executioner

The Executioner

Year: 1990

Runtime: 166 mins

Language: Russian

DramaCrime

The journalist becomes a victim of rape. To take revenge on the rapists, she makes a deal with the criminals. But things are beginning to unfold unpredictably…

Warning: spoilers below!

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Timeline & Setting – The Executioner (1990)

Explore the full timeline and setting of The Executioner (1990). Follow every major event in chronological order and see how the environment shapes the story, characters, and dramatic tension.

Time period

April 1990

The action unfolds in the waning days of the Soviet Union, a period of social upheaval and rising crime. This transitional moment heightens Olga's willingness to act outside the law and rely on criminal networks. As the period's fragility grows, the vendetta expands beyond Olga's initial plan, dragging others into its orbit.

Location

Leningrad

Leningrad serves as the backdrop for Olga's vendetta, a dense, Baltic city setting. In April 1990, its crowded streets, neon-lit eateries, and hidden backrooms become the stages for a brutal sequence of events. The atmosphere of the late-Soviet era amplifies the sense of moral ambiguity and personal violence that drives the plot.

🏙️ Leningrad 🕰️ 1990s 🎭 Drama

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:39

Main Characters – The Executioner (1990)

Meet the key characters of The Executioner (1990), with detailed profiles, motivations, and roles in the plot. Understand their emotional journeys and what they reveal about the film’s deeper themes.

Olga Privalova

A determined journalist who refuses to report the assault and instead engineers her own vendetta. She intimidates a key witness into revealing names and later hires a crime boss to punish her attackers, driving the violence forward with cold precision.

🗡️ Revenge-seeking 🧠 Calculating 💔 Traumatized

Igor Pogodin

The restaurant maître d' and one of Olga's attackers. After the assault, his fear and paranoia deepen as he tries to protect his family and evade consequences, even as his actions contribute to the spiraling web of violence.

💥 Violent 🧠 Paranoid 🎭 Manipulative

Viktor Goldner

An addiction specialist who participates in the assault. His life unravels as Voldemar's associates abduct him and he eventually dies from an overdose amid the escalating vendetta.

💊 Addict 😨 Paranoid 💥 Violent

Sveta

Svetlana is coerced by Olga into revealing the names of the attackers, becoming a reluctant pawn in Olga's pursuit of justice and gradually consumed by fear as the plan destabilizes.

😨 Fear 👥 Co-conspirator 💬 Witness

Voldemar Karlovich

The local crime boss who orchestrates the punishment of Olga's attackers. He acknowledges that the 'mechanism' may be beyond his control, and his power crumbles as Olga's vendetta tightens its grip.

🕵️ Crime Boss 💼 Power 🧭 Manipulation

Andrey Arsentyev

A conspirator who negotiates with Olga but is fatally stabbed during their confrontation. His fate underscores the deadly stakes of Olga's revenge.

⚔️ Conflict 💔 Naive 🗡️ Violent

Olga's Father

A naval officer who appears in memory as Olga recalls a moment of departure and a toy dog, framing the film's exploration of lost innocence and lasting trauma.

🧭 Father Figure 🎖️ Military 🧠 Memory

Olga's Mother

Olga's mother appears in the family circle, grounding the drama in a domestic sphere affected by the violence and Olga's escalating actions.

💞 Family 🏠 Caregiver 😟 Concern

Olga in Childhood

A childhood version of Olga appears in a memory-tinged sequence, symbolizing the loss of innocence and the lasting impact of trauma.

🌱 Loss of innocence 🕰️ Memory 🌳 Past

Olga's Grandmother

Olga's grandmother is part of the family history shown in backstory sequences, anchoring the drama in intergenerational ties.

👵 Family 🧠 Memory 🕯️ Trauma

Doctor

A doctor who tends to Andrei after the stabbing, providing care amid the violence and serving as a counterpoint to the chaos.

🏥 Healer 🧠 Calm 🗡️ Tense

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:39

Major Themes – The Executioner (1990)

Explore the central themes of The Executioner (1990), from psychological, social, and emotional dimensions to philosophical messages. Understand what the film is really saying beneath the surface.

🗡️ Revenge

Olga's decision to punish her attackers sets off a chain of violence that spirals far beyond her control. The vendetta draws in criminals, victims, and bystanders, showing how personal vengeance can destabilize an entire community.

🕯️ Memory

The narrative foregrounds memory and the loss of innocence, crystallized in Olga's recollection of her naval officer father and a haunting vision at the end. The past relentlessly shapes the present, guiding and corrupting Olga's choices.

⚖️ Consequences

The supposed 'revenge mechanism' pulls in various players and leads to deaths, abductions, and betrayals. The story questions whether justice can arise from violence, or if vengeance merely perpetuates tragedy.

Last Updated: October 04, 2025 at 13:39

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Unlock the Full Story of The Executioner

Don't stop at just watching — explore The Executioner in full detail. From the complete plot summary and scene-by-scene timeline to character breakdowns, thematic analysis, and a deep dive into the ending — every page helps you truly understand what The Executioner is all about. Plus, discover what's next after the movie.

The Executioner Summary

Read a complete plot summary of The Executioner, including all key story points, character arcs, and turning points. This in-depth recap is ideal for understanding the narrative structure or reviewing what happened in the movie.

The Executioner Summary

The Executioner Timeline

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The Executioner Timeline

More About The Executioner

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