A gorgeous golden autumn somewhere in central Russia. September 2022. The war started six months ago, mobilization is underway, and people are confused. Those who are quicker, who have the means and the foresight, have already formed huge lines at Verkhny Lars. Meanwhile, in a luxurious villa on the lakeshore, a prosperous family lives — a successful entrepreneur, his beautiful wife, and their teenage son. The villa is beautiful and wealthy, but depressingly dull. Aside from the beauty of nature, everything here is boring. And despite the tender kisses of the characters, the air is poisoned by a lack of love. That distinct Russian lovelessness, which Zvyagintsev explored in his previous film and knows so well.

#AndreyZvyagintsev #business #WarinUkraine #lifeinRussia #CannesFilmFestival #movie #ClaudeChabrol #mobilization #reviews

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Irina Krynyina is the first wife of a Russian prisoner of war who came to Ukraine in the fall of 2023 to be with her civilian husband. Since then, not only her life but also her motivations have changed dramatically. Leaving behind a comfortable life in her native Krasnoyarsk, Krynyina, together with other Russian women living in Ukraine, founded the movement «Our Way Out» – and now helps relatives of Russian prisoners of war locate them in Ukrainian captivity. We spoke with Irina about how former captives can avoid being sent back to war.

#WarinUkraine #women #personalexperience #mobilization #society #prisoners #Russia #Ukraine

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Thirty-four-year-old teacher Ilya Yolokhin from the Perm region was not supposed to be at war due to medical reasons – yet he was sent to the occupied Donetsk region. He managed to escape from service, got out of Russia, and now shares what he went through.

#army #WarinUkraine #deserter #interview #personalexperience #RussianMinistryofDefense #mobilization #politicalasylum #psychologicaltrauma #torture #Russia

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