Aleksey Oktyabrinovich Balabanov was a Russian film director, screenwriter, and producer, considered one of the most influential and controversial figures of post-Soviet cinema. He achieved national fame and cult status with the crime film *Brat* (Brother) (1997) and its commercially successful sequel, *Brat 2* (2000), works that defined the cultural landscape of 1990s Russia. His career was characterized by an alternation between mainstream successes and provocative auteur works. These include the controversial *Of Freaks and Men* (1998), about the dawn of pornography, and the brutal *Cargo 200* (2007), an unflinching examination of the late Soviet period. His filmography also includes works such as *War* (2002), *Morphine* (2008), and his spiritual testament *Me Too* (2012). For his raw and nihilistic style, he received numerous accolades, including several Nika Awards—the most prestigious Russian film award—for Best Director and Best Film.