I'm all for diverse casting, but not when you're tryna tell me half the Russians in 1920s Russia were black. The historical inaccuracy was very distracting and confusing. That aside, this is a poignant tale of people in dire circumstances saving each other and rebuilding their lives. All the acting was compelling. The set design and costumes created a palpable atmosphere. Still though, why were "Mishka", "Marina", and "Alexei" black? My suspension of disbelief was in overdrive with this one.