
Amaninawhiterobestandsinaswimmingpoolguardedbymeninblacksunglasses.Theyarereminiscentofbodyguards.Oneofthebesuitedmenentersthewaterandpushesthemanunderthesurface,overandoveragain:abaptism,aninitiationriteortorture?<br/> Thewaterturnsblack.Shortlyafterwards,youseethemandisappearamongthetrees,twosoldiersfromtheZayovskySquadronproppinghimup.Thisfilmcouldbesetyesterday,todayortomorrow;itscharactersseemtobeoutsideoftime.TheyarearchetypesofRussianmythologyandstoriesthatembodytheirhomeland’svariousextremes.Aforestinthemarshesoffersthemsanctuary.Viaamessengerwhoknowsthelabyrinthinepathways,theycommunicate:thepartisans,thecosmonautandthescientist,whowantstobrewtheelixirofimmortality.Butanotherelixiralsoplaysarole.PerhapsthemaninthewhiterobeisactuallyJesus,andtheblackliquidhehasleftbehindinthepoolisactuallyoil.Isthisgrotesquegameofcitationsandarchetypesperhapsmorethanjustafairytale,butalsoaparableonpresent-dayRussia?berlinale2016
