Kompromat

Mathieu, a French researcher assigned to an institute in Irkutsk, is abruptly seized by Russian authorities one night. He discovers he’s been accused of sexually abusing his own daughter, a charge that feels engineered. He quickly realizes a Kompromat is at play, a trap crafted with help from the FSB to ruin his reputation and force a confession. Isolated from friends and family, he has no reliable ally inside the system. The case appears unwinnable, and the authorities offer no mercy. With ordinary means failing to prove his innocence, the only option left seems to be a perilous attempt to escape. The setting amplifies paranoia as every corridor could hide a trap.

Directed by Jérôme Salle, Kompromat is based on material by Caryl Férey. International thriller released in 2022 follows a French researcher played by Gilles Lellouche who fights to prove his innocence, while Kulig's Svetlana deepens the web of suspicion.

Box office: worldwide gross of 4,283,431 USD. The film earned modest returns across its international release, reflecting its niche appeal within thrillers crossing French and Russian settings, with releases in several European markets and limited rollout elsewhere.

While Kompromat has limited global visibility, the film adds to a subgenre of political thrillers that cross European and Russian landscapes. It has not sparked a wide cultural dialogue yet, but it contributes to conversations about media manipulation and state power. It offers a lean, tense alternative to big-budget spy fantasies, leaning on atmosphere and character stakes rather than explosions to carry its message.