Ballerina Dominika Egorova is recruited to 'Sparrow School,' a Russian intelligence service where she is forced to use her body as a weapon. Her first mission, targeting a C.I.A. agent, thre... Read allBallerina Dominika Egorova is recruited to 'Sparrow School,' a Russian intelligence service where she is forced to use her body as a weapon. Her first mission, targeting a C.I.A. agent, threatens to unravel the security of both nations.Ballerina Dominika Egorova is recruited to 'Sparrow School,' a Russian intelligence service where she is forced to use her body as a weapon. Her first mission, targeting a C.I.A. agent, threatens to unravel the security of both nations.
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- 3 wins & 9 nominations
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Storyline
Did you know
- TriviaSource novelist Jason Matthews may not have encountered a real-life Dominika in his work with the CIA, but "honeypot" school was indeed part of Soviet intelligence training. "In the Soviet Union, they had a school that taught young women the art of entrapment, the art of seduction, for blackmailing intelligence targets," Matthews explained. "They had a Sparrow School in the city of Kazan, on the banks of the Volga River, where young women were taught how to be courtesans. They were called 'Sparrows'."
- GoofsGeneral Korlinoi's medals are US Army medals. They include the Silver Star, the Purple Heart and the Army Good Conduct Medal.
- Crazy creditsThe title doesn't appear until the 10-minute mark.
- Alternate versionsThe UK version is cut for "strong sadistic violence" to earn a 15 certificate instead of an 18, which was done based on BBFC advice. As both countries make up the same distribution region, Ireland also received the same cut version (rated 16 for cinema and 18 on video). The contentious scene shows Ustinov being strangled:
- In the UK version, we only see a brief establishing shot where his hands are covering his throat, cutting right to a close-up of Dominika struggling but completely clean. The censored footage shows the wire cutting into Ustinov's throat for much longer, in more graphic detail after his arms hang loose, and him bleeding on Dominika's chest.
- Ustinov collapsing uses an alternate shot in the UK version, and the second close-up of Dominika is digitally bloodless as with the first, but there's still blood on her chest when putting on her clothes as per the uncut version (a continuity error).
- ConnectionsFeatured in Chris Stuckmann Movie Reviews: Red Sparrow (2018)
- SoundtracksOpus 40, no. 6
Written by Pyotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky
Featured review
Not An Easy Movie To Watch
Anyone who saw Jennifer Lawrence in Darren Aronofsky's mind-trip horror spectacle, mother! which was a two-hour psychological rollercoaster ride, would agree that it may have been Lawrence's riskiest and bravest performance... until now. In the new thriller, Red Sparrow, Lawrence stars as Dominika Egorova, a Russian girl whose entire life revolves around being a prima ballerina for the Bolshoi Ballet and taking care of her very ill mother (Joely Richardson). When Dominika suffers a career-ending injury (an injury that will make you flinch and cringe into your seat), it quickly becomes apparent that it is also the end of the ballet-sponsored housing and medical care that her mother desperately needs. In steps her slimy, but dashingly handsome, uncle Vanya (an excellent Matthias Schoenaerts), who pulls her into a world of sex, seduction, murder and espionage. But not before enduring a grueling and brutal military-like training at Sparrow School, a sadistic program for new, young recruits being molded to become Russian spies. Charlotte Rampling who plays Matron, the head mistress, is a veteran spy who teaches the new recruits how to lose their inhibitions and to pry the weakness out of their enemies, all for the sake of their country. She trains them to be as cold and conniving as she is with the power of seduction and manipulation. This is where Lawrence shows her vulnerability, in a career-high performance.
In no time does Dominika starts using sex as a weapon. Whether it's with a colleague, an enemy, or a repugnant boss. She does what's needed to get the job done. No one said it was going to be glamorous. This has got to be Lawrence's most challenging role yet. Already, having earned four Academy Award nominations with one win (for Silver Linings Playbook), Lawrence is one of our best actresses working today. Not bad for someone who dropped out of school after eighth grade, which she recently revealed on 60 Minutes. Red Sparrow isn't an easy movie to watch. As a matter of fact, it's quite disturbing. There are torture scenes which are cringe inducing, rape scenes that look way too real and a fight scene between Dominika and two men which is one of the most brutal and gruesome fight scenes I've ever had the displeasure of seeing. Lawrence does bare all, but that seems tame considering the subject matter. Joel Edgerton plays the American CIA agent who falls in love with her. He's good, even with an American accent. Lawrence is fun to watch, too, Russian accent and all, especially when she utters lines like, "You sent me to whore school" to her uncle. But man, is Red Sparrow violent and graphic, and yet, offers no apologies for it. Many will find the film too much to handle. And rightfully so. Still, it's a great thriller that will leave you breathless till the very end.
In no time does Dominika starts using sex as a weapon. Whether it's with a colleague, an enemy, or a repugnant boss. She does what's needed to get the job done. No one said it was going to be glamorous. This has got to be Lawrence's most challenging role yet. Already, having earned four Academy Award nominations with one win (for Silver Linings Playbook), Lawrence is one of our best actresses working today. Not bad for someone who dropped out of school after eighth grade, which she recently revealed on 60 Minutes. Red Sparrow isn't an easy movie to watch. As a matter of fact, it's quite disturbing. There are torture scenes which are cringe inducing, rape scenes that look way too real and a fight scene between Dominika and two men which is one of the most brutal and gruesome fight scenes I've ever had the displeasure of seeing. Lawrence does bare all, but that seems tame considering the subject matter. Joel Edgerton plays the American CIA agent who falls in love with her. He's good, even with an American accent. Lawrence is fun to watch, too, Russian accent and all, especially when she utters lines like, "You sent me to whore school" to her uncle. But man, is Red Sparrow violent and graphic, and yet, offers no apologies for it. Many will find the film too much to handle. And rightfully so. Still, it's a great thriller that will leave you breathless till the very end.
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- alvinvigil-574-884399
- Mar 2, 2018
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Details
- Release date
- Countries of origin
- Official sites
- Languages
- Also known as
- Điệp Vụ Chim Sẻ Đỏ
- Filming locations
- Slovenský Rozhlas - Mýtna 2826, Bratislava, Slovakia(Russian agency in Budapest)
- Production companies
- See more company credits at IMDbPro
Box office
- Budget
- $69,000,000 (estimated)
- Gross US & Canada
- $46,874,505
- Opening weekend US & Canada
- $16,853,422
- Mar 4, 2018
- Gross worldwide
- $151,572,634
- Runtime2 hours 20 minutes
- Color
- Sound mix
- Aspect ratio
- 2.39 : 1
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