John Malkovich has been cast as Grandfather Kuzia in the upcoming film adaptation ‘Siberian Education,’ Collider is reporting. The movie, which is based on Nicolai Lilin’s autobiography of the same name, chronicles the author’s life in Transnitria, a lawless community between Moldova and Ukraine.

In the region, which maintains a strict moral code, Kuzja teaches his grandson Kolyma, who will be portrayed by Arnas Fedaravicius, the morals of honest criminals. A group of criminals have been exiled to Transnitria by Stalin so they would have to live according to the area’s strict code of ritualized respect and fierce loyalty. However, those living in the area also distrust authority. But the men who live there respect their elders and adhere to the truth, often by force.

Director Gabriele Salvatores co-wrote the screenplay with Steano Rulli and Sandro Petraglia. ‘Siberian Education,’ which is set between 1985 and 1995, will begin filming in Lithuania at the end of August 2011.

Written by: Karen Benardello