Roots (2005): cast, story & where to watch
2005 · Film · ★ 4.8
Released in 2005, Roots is a comedy and drama film directed by Pavel Lungin, running about 103 minutes.
What it’s about. Shameless slimeball Eduard "Edik" Letov - clad in an everpresent Hawaiian shirt - puts the sting on alien travelers hoping to connect with their roots, by having local phonies pose as the visitors' long-lost relatives. Complications abound when Letov attempts to pass off an entire village under the guise of a community wiped out during the Second World War. The arrival of a group of trouble-causing misfits, among them mobster Barukh - who wishes to bury his mother's remains, only to discover that someone keeps exhuming them - and the lech Simon - a Canadian with an insatiable fetish for his sexy translator - turn Letov's latest scheme into a veritable cat's cradle.
Who’s in it. Roots stars Konstantin Khabenskiy as Edik, Natalia Koliakanova as Régina, Léonid Kanievski as Baroukh and Esther Gorintin as Esther, among others.
How it landed. With an audience score of 4.8/10, Roots has proved divisive with audiences.
Where to watch. Streaming options change often. See the full, country-by-country breakdown on our where to watch Roots page.
If you liked it. Fans of Roots tend to enjoy Forrest Gump, Parasite, Life Is Beautiful and Fight Club.
Frequently asked
- Where can I watch Roots (2005)?
- Streaming, rental and purchase options for Roots change frequently. Check our where-to-watch page for the latest availability in your country.
- Is Roots worth watching?
- Roots holds an audience score of 4.8 out of 10, and is a strong pick if you enjoy comedy and drama. Reactions are mixed, so it may depend on taste.
- Who stars in Roots?
- Roots stars Konstantin Khabenskiy, Natalia Koliakanova, Léonid Kanievski, Esther Gorintin and Daniil Spivakovskiy.
- When was Roots released?
- Roots was released in 2005, with a runtime of about 103 minutes.