Black Lightning

 “Black Lightning” (Russian: «Чёрная молния») is a Russian film made in 2009.

It’s about a Student, Dmitry "Dima" (played by Grigoriy Dobrygin) at Moscow State University who isn’t as rich as his other Friends (the New Russians.)

New Russians (Russian: новые русские) are Politicians, like Putin, and Businessmen/women who became rich in the 1990s after the Fall of the Soviet Union through criminal means and today they flaunt their wealth, status and power.

New Russians are described as: “Physically strong, poorly educated, assertive, devoid of moral values and materialistic types”.

Dima received a 1966 Soviet Volga from his Parents for his Birthday and while he is mocked by his Friends (who all have Mercedes) he decides to take on different delivery jobs to try and impress a fellow Classmate he likes, Nastya (played by Ekaterina Vilkova.)

He learns that his car was part of a Secret Soviet Experiment and has Nano Technology  that allows it to fly and so uses it to help him avoid Moscow’s horrible Traffic Jams and earn money faster.

After the death of his Father he decides to use his car to help others and so creates Black Lightning flying around Mossow to help those in need.

At the same time an Evil New Russian Businessman, Kuptsov (played by Viktor Verzhbitsky) is searching for the 1966 Volga and its Nano Technology so he can mine for the diamonds buried under Moscow – which would destroy the City and kill its population of 13 Million.

There’s a final battle on New Year’s between Black Lightning/Dima and Kuptsov.

“Black Lightning” may just seem like the Russian Version of a Superhero Movie (and it is to a point) but it also is a commentary about Modern Russian Society (the Arrogant and Abusive New Russians, the loss of Russian Morals, etc.)

You can see “Black Lightning” either with English Subtitles or Dubbed in English