The Spot

Colour, 35 mm
Russia, 2006, 85 min
IP – International premiere
Section: East of the West - Films in Competition

Synopsis

Three Moscow prostitutes – Nina, Anya and Kira – are offering their services on their grimy patch by the Red Gate. Their trade is mediated by a “firm”, whose sex business also puts a tidy packet in the direction of the cynical local militia. The most quirky of characters find their way here, from dreamers and deviants to all sorts of yuppies trying to fulfil their dreams of the weirdest form of immoral conduct. Not even the most appalling incidents deter the girls from carrying out their trade. Each has her own story and fitting reason for abandoning her family and taking to the streets. They have all learned to rise above their awful experiences with an imaginary independence gained from their modest financial income. They could be robbed at any time, anywhere, and in order to secure a roof over their heads, they pay to live in a bizarre slum near the railway track. They have no illusions about a life full of violence, ruthlessness, humiliation and iniquity. They have driven emotion from their tormented bodies and have hardened their hearts to the outside world…

About the director

Yuri Moroz (b. 1956, Krasnodon, Russia) completed his studies at MCHAT (1979) and then worked as an actor in the Lenkom theatre in Moscow; he also appeared in numerous films. He subsequently studied film direction at VGIK (1987). He was the Chairman of the Board of the Young Filmmakers’ Association (1993), he initiated the Kinoforum young filmmakers’ IFF (1994), he has been involved in production since 1998 and owns the Kino art club (1995). After the short films Children’s Room (Dyetskaya, 1984), Window of Summer Strawberries (Zemlyanichnoye okoshko, 1987), he debuted with the feature sci-fi parody The Witches’ Cave (Podzemeliye vyedm, 1990). He took part in a project to mark the 100th  anniversary of film with Arrival of a Train (Pribytiye poyezda, 1995). He then directed various popular TV series (the most successful being Kamenskaya, 1999).