- year : 2023
- country : Russia
- timing : 29:30'
- genre : fiction film
- production : Part Academy
written and directed by Tanya Weinstein
produced by Nastya Afanasenko, Yulia Romanova
DoP Dina Verutina
music by Oleg Vatalev
sound by Arseniy Shchedrin
editor Dina Verutina
production designer Evgenia Tyurin
cast: Artem Balandin, Tatiana Dryablova, Chulpan Sufiyanova, Maxim Avdeev, Alexander Gromyko, Svetlana Akinina, Daria Bazhanova, Marina Shevchenko, Polina Yakubovskaya, Daria Rumyantseva, Alexander Koshkin, Yulia Ivanova, Tatiana Galimzyanova, Anastasia Tsaryuk, Ksenia Filatova, Tatiana Mezhuyeva, Oksana Lobkova
Near Arkhangelsk, a murder is taking place in a mysterious "sect". A young journalist Zhenya is going to investigate the case. On the spot, it turns out that the mysterious "sect" is a refuge for women who have experienced domestic violence. In the same place Zhenya meets her sister, who went missing three years ago. The narrative in the film is interspersed with the real stories of women who have been subjected to domestic violence. As well as the director's comments and scenes where we see the director working with the actors, with the story, trying out different actors for the same role.
- Pune Short Film Festival (2023, India, Pune)
- International Human Rights Film “El septimo ojo es tuyo” (2023, Bolivia, Sucre)
Director’s statement
The screenplay of our film Shelter deals with the modern, highly distressing problem of domestic violence. Compiled from documentary evidence, interviews and archival materials, the film offers a broader perspective of this problem than we, unfortunately, are so accustomed to. It is a super task, in fact.
This film reveals that simple truth that violence is very close. It talks about the importance of being sensitive and vigilant. The most unexpected, seemingly prosperous families may turn out to be very different on the inside. It is important not to miss, to find strength and help those who are in trouble. This film is about how easy it is to close one’s eyes and normalize what is happening. Teenage nonsense, senile insanity - this isn’t a reason not to pay attention, not to hear the person next to you. The moral message and overreaching goal of this work is to state that there are no situations from which a person cannot liberate him or herself. You can find like-minded people, help and your own way even in seemingly hopeless circumstances. And when this path is found, you can find the strength in yourself to provide the same support to others. Empathy and humanity are the main messages of our film.
ABOUT THE FILM DIRECTOR:
Tanya Weinstein was born on 16.04.1982 in St. Petersburg, Russia. In 2004 graduated from the History Institute of St. Petersburg State University, in 2008 - Russian State Institute of Performing Arts, in 2015 - The Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, In 2021 - the Scenario Workshop of Alexander Molchanov.
FILMOGRAPHY:
2023 - "Shelter", short film \ debut
