21 minutes. One disputed body. A powder keg of grief and toxic masculinity.
In eastern Ukraine, Terry and his team of forensic scientists are working on the crash of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17. Pressed by the proximity of the ongoing fighting, they must identify the bodies of their compatriots as quickly as possible. Tension is palpable between the Russian soldiers supervising the operation and Terry's team: they disagree over the identity of one of the bodies. Against a backdrop of culture shock and homophobia, an unexpectedly violent discussion brings everyone face to face with harsh reality.
Writing
Dialogue that weaponizes bureaucracy against humanity.
Acting
Pierre Kiwitt's simmering restraint before explosion.
Direction
Fabiani squeezes maximum dread from minimal space.
Director
Lucas Fabiani
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released amid ongoing MH17 tribunal proceedings, the short weaponizes real geopolitical wound—Ukraine's 2014 trauma still unresolved in international courts.
The disputed body's name, Sergueï, becomes loaded: Russian name, French pronunciation, Dutch investigation—national identity literally contested on a slab.
FR
