Vitaly Khinenzon

A remote corner in the kingdom of nature is the ideal place for reflections about the meaning of life and the hero’s role in this world: this hero is Rodion Raskolnikov. His tactile and sincere communication with the current of the water in the clear mountain river seems to turn to the Koranic question on man’s original matter – the transparent liquid with which Raskolnikov tries to wash his face whilst dirtying himself. Water is the ‘mirror’ in which the hero sees himself, set against the issue of the ‘superflu- ous man’ and his own destination. Is he a worm? Is this worm disgusting?” – Raskol- nikov asks his reflection. The internal experiences, along with visions of the caring Sonya singing him a lullaby – are an invented reality into which Rodion has escaped, but he is forced to return to the former world, where things are not as they seemed...

A true story, based on the tragedy of the family of the died military journalist in Post-Soviet Tajikistan in 1993. This film is a debut film of young Tajik art activist, a novice filmmaker Anisa Sabiri. Native to rural Tajikistan, she hopes to use her art to shine a light on the history and horrors of the civil war and conflicts that have affected so many in her homeland, but are often forgotten by the rest of the world.

A remote corner in the kingdom of nature is the ideal place for reflections about the meaning of life and the hero’s role in this world: this hero is Rodion Raskolnikov. His tactile and sincere communication with the current of the water in the clear mountain river seems to turn to the Koranic question on man’s original matter – the transparent liquid with which Raskolnikov tries to wash his face whilst dirtying himself. Water is the ‘mirror’ in which the hero sees himself, set against the issue of the ‘superflu- ous man’ and his own destination. Is he a worm? Is this worm disgusting?” – Raskol- nikov asks his reflection. The internal experiences, along with visions of the caring Sonya singing him a lullaby – are an invented reality into which Rodion has escaped, but he is forced to return to the former world, where things are not as they seemed...