Film "Goliath" Alexander Petrenko in the title role became one of the most discussed Russian film innovations of 2023. A painting combining elements action movie, dramas And social satire, attracted attention not only with its bright acting, but also with the topical theme of the “little man” confronting the corporate machine. Petrenko, known for his roles in TV series "Method" And "Ordinary Woman", appears here in an unexpected role - his hero, a modest mechanic Valery Soloviev, is forced to enter into an unequal struggle with a powerful company, symbolically named “Goliath”.

Director Igor Voloshin (film writer "Attraction" And "Invasion") set himself an ambitious task: to create a movie that would be both spectacular and deep in meaning. "Goliath" successfully balances between fast-paced action scenes (including impressive car chases). KAMAZ and a fight in the workshop) and philosophical reflections on justice. The film was released with ratings 16+, but its topics are relevant for any age audience - from students to retirees.

The plot of the film “Goliath”: what is the story with Petrenko about

The action takes place in a provincial town, where a factory "Goliath Motors" - the main employer and the actual owner of the lives of local residents. The main character Valery Soloviev (Alexander Petrenko), has been working here as a mechanic for 20 years. His life flows smoothly: car repairs, evening gatherings with a friend Sergei (actor Dmitry Lysenkov) and caring for a sick mother. Everything changes when something happens at the factory fatal accident — a young intern dies, forced by his superiors to work on a faulty machine.

Valery, having become an accidental witness to the incident, tries to achieve justice: he writes a statement to the trade union, addresses the director of the plant (played by Andrey Merzlikin), but faces a wall of indifference. In response to his attempts to understand the matter, the management begins to put pressure on him: they reduce the bonus, transfer him to a lower-paid position, and then completely stage a provocation, accusing Solovyov of stealing spare parts. This is where the main intrigue begins: the hero Petrenko decides take the law into your own hands.

  • 🔧 First act: getting to know the characters, establishing a conflict (factory accident).
  • ⚖️ Second act: Solovyov's struggle for justice through official authorities.
  • 💥 Third act: escalation of the conflict - the hero switches to radical methods.
  • 🎭 Final: an unexpected twist that forces viewers to rethink the concept of “victory.”

The peculiarity of the plot is its documentary reliability. Screenwriters Oleg Antonov And Alexey Grachev studied real cases of industrial injuries in Russia, as well as the history of workers’ struggle for their rights (for example, strike at Ford in Vsevolozhsk). This gives the film a sharpness of social criticism, rarely found in modern Russian cinema.

📊 How do you feel about the topic of labor protests in cinema?
  • I support it - it’s relevant
  • Neutral, just plot
  • Too politicized
  • I'm not interested in this topic

Cast: who else starred in “Goliath” besides Petrenko

Alexander Petrenko, of course, became central figure film, but the success of the film was largely determined by other actors. Their performance creates that very effect of a “live” movie, where each character is not a template, but an individual with his own motives. Here are the key performers:

Actor Role Interesting fact
Alexander Petrenko Valery Soloviev For the role, the actor completed an internship at a real car plant in Nizhny Novgorod.
Andrey Merzlikin Director of the Goliath-Motors plant The character was inspired by interviews with top managers of Russian corporations.
Dmitry Lysenkov Sergei, Solovyov's friend The actor improvised many lines, giving the dialogues a natural feel.
Julia Franz Journalist Anna Her character is based on the true story of a reporter who investigated corporate corruption.

The role deserves special attention Andrey Merzlikin. His plant director is not a caricatured villain, but complex character, who sincerely believes that he is acting for the benefit of the company (and, as a result, the city). This ambiguity deepens the film's conflict: the viewer is asked not just to hate the antagonist, but to understand his motives.

The image of the journalist is also interesting Anna (Yulia Frants), who helps Solovyov. Her story echoes real cases of pressure on the media: in one episode, the newspaper’s editorial office receives a call from “above” demanding that the investigation be closed. This scene is shot almost like a documentary camera, which enhances the effect of presence.

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Pay attention to the episode with shareholders meeting — the dialogues there quote almost verbatim the minutes of real meetings of Russian corporations.

Where to watch “Goliath” with Petrenko online: legal ways

After its premiere in cinemas (October 2023), the film became available on several legal platforms. It is important to choose a trusted service to avoid viruses and low video quality. Current options for 2026:

  • 🎬 KION: The film is available in the "New" section. Rental cost - 250₽, shopping - 450₽.
  • 📺 Okko: included in the Premium subscription or available for 299₽ separately.
  • 🌍 IVI: free for subscribers, no ads. Quality - up to 1080p.
  • 📱 MTS Cinema: included in the “Movies and TV Series” package (from 199₽/month).

⚠️ Attention: on torrent trackers and pirate sites, versions of the film are distributed with cut scenes (for example, without Solovyov’s final speech) or dubbed by unofficial studios. The original voice acting includes the voices of the actors, which gives the viewing authenticity.

For those who prefer physical media, the film has been released on Blu-ray And DVD company "Central Partnership". The Collector's Edition includes:

  • Deleted scenes (including alternate ending).
  • Interview with the director and actors.
  • Documentary about the filming "Behind the scenes of Goliath".

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Headphones ready (sound plays a key role in the film) -->

Reviews and ratings: what viewers and critics say

The film caused polarized reviews - from enthusiastic to sharply negative. On Kinopoisk rating fluctuates around 7.1/10 (based on 15 thousand ratings), and on IMDb — 6.7/10. The range of opinions is due to the fact that “Goliath” touches on painful social topics, which many viewers perceive subjectively.

⚠️ Attention: some viewers note that the film too gloomy for entertaining viewing. If you're expecting a classic action movie with a happy ending, Goliath may disappoint. Its strength is realism, not a positive ending.

Among critics' claims:

  • 🐢 Slow pace in the first half (many scenes are devoted to the life of the heroes).
  • 🎭 Insufficient elaboration some characters (for example, Solovyov’s wife remains “gray”).
  • 💬 Excessive didactics — individual monologues sound like lectures on sociology.

However, most experts agree that Alexander Petrenko played one of the best roles in my career. His hero is not a superman, but an ordinary person who is afraid, doubts, but finds the strength to go to the end. The stage is especially praised “conversation with the father of a deceased intern” (actor Sergey Garmash), where Petrenko conveys a whole range of emotions - from guilt to determination.

What does Petrenko think about his hero?

“Valery is not a hero in the classical sense. He was just tired of being silent. I was attracted to the idea of ​​​​showing how an ordinary person can change the system, even if the chances are minimal. This is not about victory, but about dignity.” (from interview "Afisha Daily", November 2023)

Filming and interesting facts about the film

Goliath's budget was approx. 300 million rubles - a modest amount for an action film, but the director managed to distribute the funds wisely. Principal photography took place in Nizhny Novgorod And Tolyatti, where Soviet industrial landscapes were preserved, ideal for the atmosphere of the film. A few key facts:

  • 🚗 Chase on KAMAZ: the scene was filmed on a real factory site. The truck driver was a stuntman with 15 years of experience.
  • 🔥 Fire in the workshop: For safety, special pyrotechnic mixtures were used, and the actors underwent evacuation training.
  • 🎤 Sound: all impacts and sounds of cars were recorded live - without computer processing.
  • 📜 Scenario: The ending was originally more optimistic, but was reshot after test screenings.

One of the most difficult episodes - fight in the workshop between Solovyov and the guards. Petrenko performed many of his own stunts, despite the risk of injury. The director insisted on maximum realism: “I didn’t want it to look like a staged battle. Alexander did a brilliant job - his character really looks like a man who has never fought, but is forced to defend himself.”

The choice of music is also interesting. The soundtrack was written by the composer Igor Vdovkin (known for his work on "Leviathan"), using industrial noises and sounds of machines as part of the musical part. This creates a unique atmosphere where the plant literally becomes another “character” in the film.

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The film was shot in real workshops of the car plant - this gave the picture documentary authenticity, but complicated the work of the operators due to the limited space.

Comparison with foreign analogues: how “Goliath” differs from “Ernst against the machine”

The theme of confrontation between man and corporation is not new in world cinema. Most often in such films the main character is a lawyer or journalist (as in "Ernst against the machine" with Julia Roberts), but “Goliath” offers a fresh look: here the fighter for justice becomes worker without legal education.

Criterion "Goliath" (2023) "Ernst vs. the Machine" (2000)
Main character Mechanic Valery Soloviev Attorney Ern Brockovich
Fighting methods Direct action, sabotage Trial, investigation
Social context Russian province, 2020s America 1990s, environmental scandal
Final Ambivalent, without clear victory Victory in court, multi-million dollar compensation

Another key difference is the visual style. While Hollywood films with similar themes are often shot in bright colors (symbolizing hope), Goliath uses dark color palette with a predominance of gray and blue. This emphasizes the hopelessness of the hero’s situation and the gloomy atmosphere of the provincial town.

At the same time, both films are united by the relevance of the topic: in both Russia and the USA, cases of industrial injuries and pressure on workers remain a serious problem. "Goliath" is distinguished by the fact that it does not offer easy solutions - its ending leaves the audience wondering Is victory worth the price?.

Prospects: will there be a sequel or TV series based on “Goliath”

The film was a success at the box office (gross exceeded 500 million rubles) and active discussions on social networks pushed the creators to the idea of a continuation. According to the producer Sergei Selyanov, two options are being considered:

  1. Sequel: the story of Solovyov after 5 years - how his life changed after the events of the film.
  2. Spin-off: series about journalist Anna (Julia Franz), who is investigating other corporate scandals.

However, there are also difficulties. Alexander Petrenko in an interview "To Kommersant" noted that he did not want to return to the role without a good reason: “Valery went through hell - what else could happen to him? We need to come up with a story that won’t be repeated.” In addition, some viewers criticize the ending as overly pessimistic, and the creators fear that the sequel may disappoint expectations.

The TV series option looks more realistic. The investigative journalism plot allows the franchise to develop in different directions without being tied to one hero. According to preliminary data, the pilot script is already in the works, and filming could begin in 2026.

⚠️ Attention: If a sequel does come out, expect a change in tone. According to rumors, the new film may be less dark, with elements black comedy - this will help attract a wider audience.

FAQ: answers to frequently asked questions about the film “Goliath”

What true story is Goliath based on?

The writers were inspired by several cases:

  • 🏭 Accident at NLMK (2018), where a worker died due to a safety violation.
  • 📄 The Ford workers case (2019), who sued the company over non-payment of compensation.
  • 🎤 The story of activist Sergei Mokhnatkin, who fought for the rights of prisoners.

However, the film is not biographical - it is an artistic summary.

Is it true that Alexander Petrenko performed his own stunts?

Yes, the actor insisted on minimal use of stunt doubles. The only exceptions were the most dangerous scenes (for example, falling from the stairs in the workshop). To prepare, Petrenko trained with stuntmen for 2 months, studying:

  • 🥊 Boxing basics (for the fight scene).
  • 🚛 Driving a truck (for chasing).
  • 🔧 Working on machines (so that the movements look natural).
Why is the film called "Goliath"?

The title refers to the biblical parable about David and Goliathwhere the weak defeats the strong. In the context of the film:

  • 🏗️ "Goliath" is a giant plant symbolizing power and money.
  • 👨 Valery Soloviev - “David”, an ordinary man with a wrench instead of a sling.

However, unlike the biblical story, there is no clear victory - which makes the film more realistic.

Where did the film shoot take place?

Main locations:

  • 🏙️ Nizhny Novgorod: workshops of the GAZ plant, residential areas of the Avtozavodsky district.
  • 🚗 Tolyatti: filming on the territory of AVTOVAZ (with permission from the administration).
  • 🌲 Yaroslavl region: forest scenes (for example, the episode with Solovyov’s escape).

Interestingly, some residents of Nizhny Novgorod acted as extras - this added authenticity to the film.

Will Goliath be shown on Western platforms?

The company acquired the international distribution rights «Wild Bunch» (France). The film was presented at several festivals:

  • 🎞️ Berlinale 2026 (out of competition, section “Panorama”).
  • 🌍 Festival in Karlovy Vary (June 2026).

The film is expected to appear on the Netflix or Amazon Prime called «Goliath: The Russian David».