Horror Which Is Always with You

Colour, 35 mm
Russia, 2007, 104 min
IP – International premiere
Section: East of the West - Films in Competition

Synopsis

The psychologist Varzumov and philologist Lera, demoralised by the lax attitude of their students, live near a newly restored church. Their routine co-existence is suddenly turned upside-down by the appearance of a commando which takes over their flat. After futile efforts to expel the intruders from their home, they gradually discover that both lieutenant colonel Nikolai and his three men are decent people. The couple become reconciled with them in the belief that they are all involved in fulfilling the “higher interests” of some kind of mission. Lera resolves this awkward situation through recourse to her faith, of particular relevance since Father Mikhail is well acquainted with the commando. The sensitive intellectual Varzumov starts acting strangely. Fascinated by the machismo of the commando, he dons a military jacket, shaves his head and, after sampling the delights of the Kalashnikov, he renounces his principles and his identity. Does he realise the recklessness of his actions? Or how deceptive the fickle reality of social change can become when bowing to the “higher interests” of both the representatives of power and the Church?

About the director

Arkadiy Yakhnis (b. 1952, Belarus) studied at the Moscow Film Academy (1987-1989) and subsequently made the short film The Date (Data, 1990), the documentary Farewell (Proshchaniye, 1992) and the feature film Shoes from America (Botinki iz Ameriky, 2001). He collaborated on the film Horror Which Is Always with You with eminent screenwriter Yuri Arabov.