I've recently watched the movie Child 44, which is set in the 1950's Soviet Union during the Stalin regime. Apart from the fact that the movie itself is not memorable in my opinion, the thing that has bugged me the most is the way characters talk, which is in English language but with a strong eastern (Russian) accent. And I've been asking myself troughout the whole movie, why is that "necessary"?
What could possibly be the reason behind the choice of making Russian characters speak in that manner? They are all Russians, they are not interacting with foreigners, so why the thick accent?
Of course I understand the obvious choice of making a movie in English language, for commercial and casting reasons, but I still don't understand the need of constantly reminding us that they are Russians by using this annoying ruse and throwing some "Da" around.
I understand the reason for characterization (for instance: Italian-American mobsters), but this seems completely unjustified to me.
Does anybody know the reason (if there's any) behind this choice?
I'm positive that this is not the first, nor the only movie in which this "technique" for dialogues has been adopted, but I can't remember other examples at the moment.