Writing
The film was conceived as a story about the history of the Gogol Center Theater and the case of Kirill Serebrennikov. But the circumstances were different. This is a film about a film that could not be made.
They have been abandoned in a world adorned with concepts such as family, friendship, love, and opportunities. In search of answers to their questions, they devour themselves like a chemical substance that corrodes the world around, in order to eventually learn not to listen but to hear, not to look but to see. And to find their way.
The famous conductor (Vladas Bagdonas) goes with his orchestra to Jerusalem to perform the oratorio "St. Matthew Passion." The day before he receives a telegram, stating the suicide of his son, who lived in Israel. Conductor at the time denied the artist's son, believing that he is living right. It's suicide, especially suicide note flip soul maestro's son, forced him to reconsider all their attitudes.
Once upon a time, the great soprano Sofia Mayer conquered the world with her voice, her beauty and the legend she carefully built around herself. Now only the legend remains — the diva herself hasn't performed for years, nor been seen in the glittering circles of society she once dominated. But the woman who fascinated and thrilled the world for so long would like to crown her career with one more triumph. And she'll use every dirty trick she knows to achieve it.
We see what is happening through the eyes of a protagonist. A young athlete Yaroslav is not happy in his life: boredom and routine of daily workouts, need of constant self-control, etc. But most of all he is concerned about a strange feeling he has for men. Only his close friend Andrew seems to understand what is happening to him. For Yaroslav it's difficult to admit that he is a gay. Internal problems become external: he fights with a member of the national team and is on the verge of scandalous charges. He is referred to a psychologist who gently opens his eyes to himself.
A young couple - Andrey and Maria - moved into a new apartment. Along with the ordered furniture, they receive a whole box of identical lamps. Who made a mistake with the order? An ad for IKEA.
This film was conceived as a continuation of the work of Igor Grigoriev "Holidays of the Revolution", filmed in 1972. The image of the future is the most important theme of the holidays a hundred years ago. Today, in the coming “future,” we are more likely to celebrate the events of the past or the present. Each other is followed by Lenin's birthday, a rock festival, a bow day, New Year, private celebrations. All these days merge into one - “red day”.
Another quarrel between the lovers leads to Leonid having a heart attack. The ambulance doctor who came to the call realizes that she is facing a pair of gays. She puts her hatred in a cold medical terms. But it is precisely this situation that allows the hero to take a different look at his life and his fear.
A woman suspects her daughter is a drug addict. Short social ad for an Orthodox help service "Graciousness"
A film about how we imagine and portray death. Our heroes are the most diverse people who have been asked to go through all the stages of death, from dying to existence “on the other side.” This study of fear and laughter - the two main reactions of man to the approach of death. Death as a collective (what will happen to everyone) and individual (what will happen to you). What is special about the attitude to death in Russia? Do we know enough about this most important event in life - death? The film creates a kind of catalog, a "herbarium" of human reactions, fears and hopes that there is life after death.
