Synopsis

Full of anticipation police officer Sergey races to the hospital. His wife is already in labour. Along the way he accidentally hits a little boy with the car who doesn’t survive the crash. Instead of owning up to his failure and admitting his guilt the major uses his high position to cover op the whole incident. However, soon after the dreadful event the major’s guilty conscience kicks in and starts torturing the man. In his second full-length feature film the successful young Russian filmmaker Yuri Bykov concentrates on the topic of corruption and abasement of basic moral principles. The story is not only told from the victim’s point of view but also gives an insight into the psyche of perpetrators as well. Both sides seem to get caught and tangled in the traps and pitfalls of the system and begin to act more and more desperately and brutally. Bykov is not only responsible for the direction, screenplay, soundtrack and editing but also plays a leading role in the film. His widely noticed piece celebrated its premiere within the frame of Semaine de la Critique at the Cannes Film Festival in 2013. In the same year the riveting and profound thriller won Best Film at the Shanghai International Film Festival. Moreover, Bykov received awards for Best Direction and Best Film Music.

Guests

Yury Bykov

Yury Bykov  
Director, writer, actor, composer, editor The Fool, The Mayor, To Live 
In Vienna: October 1-7