Two people play out a story of love and desperation that's enacted through music in this drama from writer and director Ivan Vyrypaev. Sasha (Alexei Filimonov) is a man in his twenties who lives in the small town of Serpukhov and has fallen in love with a woman who is also named Sasha (Karolina Gruszka).
Writing
Entirely spoken in rhythmic, hypnotic verse like toxic slam poetry.
Acting
Karolina Gruszka's controlled unraveling is magnetic and terrifying.
Direction
Vyrypaev's claustrophobic staging traps you in their suffocating orbit.
Director
Ivan Vyrypaev
Trivia, insights & behind the scenes
Vyrypaev emerged from Russia's controversial Teatr.doc movement, known for raw, politically charged verbatim theater.
The 75-minute runtime was deliberate—Vyrypaev wanted audiences to feel oxygen literally running out, with no intermission escape.
RU
