She fled a monster in uniform. The revolution welcomed her. So did her past.
Whilst the first shots ring out between pro-Russian government forces and members of the opposition in the winter of 2013, young Nina leaves Crimea. She was raped by a corrupt policeman, her friend was killed, and now she seeks refuge with the protesters on Maidan Square. Revolutionary chaos prevails, and it‘s not at all clear who remains loyal to whom and which means can be regarded as legitimate in the struggle for freedom. Ultimately Nina and her tormentors come face to face again and the spiral of violence is stepped up a further notch. The film was shot to a genuine backdrop, the result of which is a multifaceted allegory on the tragedy currently playing out in Ukraine.
Direction
Shot amid real Maidan chaos — fiction and history collapse into each other.
Production
Genuine protest footage blurs reality, making every frame feel stolen.
Director
Ihor Parfenov
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Released in 2014 as Russia annexed Crimea, the film became instant time-capsule — its 'current events' now read as ominous prelude to full-scale war.
Parfenov's use of actual Maidan protesters as extras creates ethical tension: some performers were literally fighting for their lives between takes.
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