In the center of the story are middle—aged women who live far from the capital and fight every day for a decent existence , one of them was lucky — despite everything, she allowed herself love.
In a small town everything is visible. However much you try to hide something, some disturbing signals will reach the family sooner or later. And then you have to make a choice: start a new life in the same place with your new “half” or confess to the old half and return to the usual flow of life. The film’s heroes stand before such a choice.
Endowed with outstanding cinematography, and in-depth interviews with competitors, this documentary underlines the gender parity being achieved at an Olympic level. Women compete in ski jumping for the first time at the Winter Games, and Canada is seen beating the United States at the last gasp in the women's ice hockey final. Disciplines given prominence here include speed skating, figure skating, aerial skiing, curling, and the biathlon. Training is analysed as much as the competitions themselves. A suite of accidents and mishaps, and the consequent tears of frustration, remind us that the Olympics is not just about winning.
As the mass deportations of the Chechen and Ingush peoples begin in 1944, young Daud and Seda escape to the mountains. When they get back to their native village, however, they witness a horrifying war crime.
In a St. Petersburg apartment, every room belongs to a family. The four families share the kitchen and bathroom in shifts. One family decides to sell their room and money hungry agents try to sell everyone else's rooms as well.
Vera and Andrew can be envied. Money work, a house in a prestigious suburban village, a good foreign car. The young spouses got even a servant: on the garden, working hard, Uzbek builders work, and on the farm - the executive housekeeper Aunt Masha. It remains only to find a reliable nurse who will look after the restless daughter Aley.
Lilya (Marina Zubanova) is an approaching-middle-age singleton who lives with and cares for her grandfather and works at a chicken factory. She is determined to get married soon, but hasn’t quite found the man for the job. Most of the story revolves around various failed dates, her conversations with coworkers and family members, and her innocent stalking of a talented local pianist.
