A war hero's son is accused of devil worship. Faith becomes a weapon. Chaos ensues.
The film tells the story of a veteran of the Russian-Turkish War who returns to his village, where his son is accused of having connections with the devil. The story tells about the confrontation between different poles of faith in the struggle for the fate of a child.
Acting
Bezrukov's exhausted eyes carry whole scenes without dialogue.
Cinematography
Mud, iconography, and candlelight — every frame reeks of desperation.
Direction
Eronin weaponizes silences between villagers' accusations.
Director
Konstantin Eronin
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Eronin filmed in actual 19th-century Orthodox villages; some locals refused participation believing the story was 'too real.'
RU
