Movie Scene : Eastern Promises – Bathhouse

Nikolai is set up to be hit in a bathhouse.  He couldn’t be more vulnerable.  He sits naked waiting for the man who brought him.  Instead two fully dressed hit-men show up to kill him.  No guns just wicked banana knives to do the job.  Nikolai soon sizes up the situation and fights for his life.  Unarmed, naked, sweaty he has the bad guys right where he wants them.

David Cronenberg has you go through the violence of the scene.  The character fights for his life.  Cincinnati Babyhead  was getting that vibe.  The scene doesn’t pull any punches, just gives the viewer the reality of the world these characters live in.  Viggo Mortensen is put through the paces and pretty well reacts and lives in the moment.  Not easy to watch, not easy viewing.  But a really good scene from a really good film.  Catch it if you can.  I don’t think Viggo will be hitting the sauna any time soon.  CB wouldn’t.