Yuri Orlov

The films hero is a metal worker named Ignat who is as strong and tough as the steel that his sprawling factory produces in the Ural Mountains. Its a great cheerless environment; life is arduous and dangerous; conditions at the plant are nearly subhuman. The only excitement in the grimy industrial town is provided by robbing a train at gunpoint or stealing sheep from the Bashkiri tribe. The most renowned diversion, however, is the annual fist fight between the strongest metal worker and the strongest miner from the region. Against his better judgment, but with the support of his co-workers, Ignat decides to take part in this perilous venture.

This documentary explores the diversity of Moscow’s underground youth culture during the late Soviet period. Filmed around alternative art scenes and informal gatherings, the film depicts hippies, metal fans, and members of the city’s artistic subculture, including residents of the Bulgakov House squat and participants in the unofficial “Love Street” art festival. Performances by alternative bands such as Zvuki Mu, Nikolai Kopernik, and Oblachny Krai are featured.