CH/B

Mutual plans see the two's paths in a mafia-run club. In the ensuing mêlée Nurik is stabbed with his own knife, whilst Yaroslav ends up unconscious. On coming around the latter finds himself handcuffed on a boat. Over the coming five days Nurik takes on the role of guardian angel; Yaroslav desperately needs to return to Moscow, where he is to give evidence in court to save a friend from a prison sentence. Both pursued by Alkhan, a shared journey begins accompanied by mutual prejudice that is soon pushed into the background by the pair's common destiny.

In his debut film Evgeni Sheliakin takes a light-hearted look at what remains a highly problematic issue in Russian society: attitudes towards labour migrants from the Caucasus. The result is a work of great sensitivity and artistic precision unafraid to voice uncomfortable truths. MM