Auteur: Elizaveta Stukanova

Genre: Romantic Comedy, Drama
Director: Sergey Ilyin

A tender and original romantic comedy about a young altar server torn between duty, tradition, and his own feelings. Named Best Film at the New Season Film Festival (2023).

Synopsis
Matvey is a well-mannered young altar server with a dream of becoming a priest. There’s just one problem—to receive a parish, he must get married within a month. Determined not to disappoint his father or his community, he sets out to find a bride. His search leads him to Agata, a bold, free-spirited artist who couldn’t care less about tradition or planning for the future.

Of course, sparks fly—but what follows isn’t your standard opposites-attract story. As the two try to navigate their wildly different worldviews, they find themselves asking the same timeless questions: What does it mean to love? To grow up? To honor the past without letting it define you?

Why watch it?
For the achingly beautiful summer landscapes of Moscow. For a storyline that’s fresh yet deeply familiar. For a new generation of Russian actors who bring heart, wit, and charm to the screen. And for an ending that avoids clichés and genuinely surprises—a quiet emotional crescendo that lingers long after the credits roll.

One scene, in particular, has already become iconic: near the film’s conclusion, the main character confesses to his father in a moment of spiritual and emotional reckoning. It’s moving, intimate, and unforgettable.

Cultural context & trends:
A clip of actor Denis Vlasenko (Matvey) reciting an excerpt from Apostle Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians went viral in the Russian-speaking internet. The passage—a poetic definition of love—brought audiences to tears and added unexpected emotional weight to the film:

“Love is patient, love is kind.
It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud.
It does not dishonor others, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered,
it keeps no record of wrongs...”

This heartfelt monologue, delivered at around 01:50:00, became one of the defining moments of modern Russian cinema in 2023.

Editor’s note
Matthew Passion is light and serious at once—a rare romantic comedy that feels both grounded and spiritual. It breaks away from the genre’s usual tropes and offers something honest instead. The film subverts expectations, not for shock value, but with kindness—and that’s what makes it so memorable.