Sergey Shaydakov

Maryana is a successful divorce lawyer, but her own marriage to Dima is far from ideal. On her birthday, her eccentric mother Margarita, a provincial actress, arrives unexpectedly and decides to stay, hoping to reconnect with her daughter. When Margarita claims that Dima is having an affair, Maryana begins to question her husband and their relationship, soon finding herself drawn into a family drama about love, trust, and the ways people try to stay together.

A feature film based on the novella by Yuri Koval, recounting a whimsical and humorous journey aboard a homemade boat through the Vologda region. The picture consists of two parallel storylines. The first follows the adventures of the novella’s protagonist, whose absurd escapade unexpectedly transforms into a mystical experience amidst the rivers, marshes, and villages of the countryside. The second centers on a theatrical production based on Koval’s book — staged by a group of students — which reveals the backstory: how the book’s hero came to yearn to break free from Moscow and retreat far away from everyone — including his friends — deep into the heart of nature.