Film of the Day: "Papers, Please" — One of the Most Accurate Video Game Adaptations of All Time

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Realistic, bleak and devastatingly precise. The short drama "Papers, Please" based on the indie hit "Papers, Please" (2013) shows how behind every document at the border lies someone's fate. And just one wrong decision can destroy not only other people's lives - but your own as well.

What the Film is About

After the war between Arstotzka and Kolechia ends, the city of Grestin is divided, and a border inspector works at its checkpoint. Every day, he decides who gets a chance at a new life and who gets turned away — sometimes risking everything in the process.

When an old acquaintance approaches him, everything that seemed clear-cut and procedural starts falling apart.

Viewing Experience

The film, released on YouTube in 2018, handles the original's atmosphere with incredible care. You'll find that familiar checkpoint, documents recreated down to the smallest detail, and that crushing choice between being a good person and being a good cog in the system.
Actor Igor Savochkin in border guard uniform sits at a table
Frame from the film "Papers, Please"
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Igor Savochkin ("Leviathan", "The Legend of Kolovrat") nails the lead role — he perfectly captures the character's internal struggle. His inspector isn't some heartless bureaucrat, but a man who's tired of looking people in the eye and saying: "Entry denied."

Who Made It

The film was created by graduates from the Ostankino Institute, and Lucas Pope — the game's creator — actually backed the project. He approved the script and essentially gave the film "official adaptation" status. The director is Nikita Ordynsky.

Critical and Audience Response

On IMDb, the film holds a solid 7.4 rating. Users call it "one of the most accurate and realistic video game adaptations ever made."
Border guard's desk with documents, with a crowd of people standing in line one after another in the background
Frame from the game "Papers, Please"
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A viewer named sitesurfer wrote in their IMDb review: I feel like this film captures the game's atmosphere and touches on its themes better than any other. Despite the film being short, it's interesting to watch regardless of whether you've played the game or not.

"Papers, Please" is a reminder that even one signature can save someone — or send them into the abyss. Arstotzka welcomes you. But not everyone. Earlier on zoomboola.com, we covered "Transfigure" — a horror film that critics rated higher than "Jeepers Creepers."