Two teachers, twelve teens, and the beautiful disaster of finding your people.
Tanya, a young educator, accompanies twelve teenagers to a theatre festival in Sochi under the supervision of Maria Genrikhovna, an experienced head teacher. Initially, there's little sympathy between the two teachers. However, they discover a deeper bond in much more fundamental things: aversion to marching in formation and other forms of officialism. Their ability to find joy even in challenging situations unites them.
Acting
Kutepova's deadpan warmth anchors every scene.
Writing
Dialogue that finds poetry in complaining about paperwork.
Director
Anna Kuznetsova
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
The film quietly references post-Soviet educational reforms, where 'officialism' became a coded term for surviving systemic absurdity.
Kuznetsova cast actual drama teachers in supporting roles; the rehearsal scenes were largely improvised, which explains their beautiful messiness.
FI
RU
