Aleksei Balabanov (25 February 1959 – 18 May 2013) was a popular Russian filmmaker. Balabanov is best known for the 1997 crime film Brat (English title: Brother), and its more action-oriented sequel, Brat-2 (Brother 2), both of which starred the late Sergei Bodrov Jr. as a novice hit man. Brother became a hit both at the box office and in video copies, achieving wide popularity in Russia. Later, however, he became better known for his shocking and controversial films Gruz 200 (2007) and Morphine (2008).

Life

In 1981 Balabanov graduated from Translation Faculty of Gorky Teachers’ Training University. From 1983 to 1987 Aleksei worked as an assistant of a film director at Sverdlovsk film studio. Later Balabanov studied at the experimental course “Auteur Cinema” (Russian: Авторское кино) of the High Courses for Scriptwriters and Film Directors, graduating in 1990.

In 1994 Balabanov together with Sergey Selyanov and Viktor Sergeyev founded the production company CTV.

Filmography 

• Me Too (Я тоже хочу) (2012) - Aleksei Balabanov was awarded the "Best Director" award for this film at the Saint Petersburg International Film Festival
• Kochegar (Кочегар) (2010)
• Morphine (Морфий) (2008)
• Cargo 200 (Груз 200) (2007)
• It Doesn't Hurt Me (Мне не больно) (2006)
• Zhmurki (Жмурки) (2005)
• War (Война) (2002)
• The River (Река) (2002)
• Brother 2 (Брат 2) (2000)
• Of Freaks and Men (Про уродов и людей) (1998)
• Brother (Брат) (1997)
• Pribytiye poyezda (1995) (segment "Trofim")
• The Castle (Замок) (1994)
• Shchastlivyye dni (Счастливые дни) (1991)
• From the History of Aerostatics in Russia (О воздушном летании в России) (1990)
• Yegor and Nastya (Настя и Егор) (1989)