Genre: Documentary
Duration: 110mins
Director: Lyubov Arkus

From the first shot of Anton running around, yelping incoherently in the grey light of destitution there is a realisation that this is going to be difficult viewing: the lead character will repulse, he will be exploited and tragedy will befall him. But gradually we warm to Anton. It is his desire to communicate and to be close, to be near, to be loved that is the driving force of the film. Gradually, surreptitiously he brings us in and we get close to him. The camera always follows him as he tries to move away. Perhaps it is a game; perhaps he is not running away; perhaps this is a game of tag where he wants to be caught, eventually. It is an unusual documentary. It is not only a durational observational documentary as the director and the cameraman get involved in the action over a number of years, but it is one of the most important documentaries to come out of Russia in many years for the emotional and social impact and its disarming simplicity, frankness and readiness to tackle a difficult subject with a clear argument, but without an issue-based agenda.

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