GENRE: ARTHOUSE DRAMA
DURATION: 116mins
DIRECTOR: ALEXANDER PROSHKIN
CAST: VIKTOR SUKHORUKOV, ANTON SHAGIN, MARIA KOROVINA, ALEXEI KORTNEV

The local steel works are the centre of a small provincial town. The guards are made up of a number of young girls including our hero, Claudia. One night, Claudia tries to stop a robbery attempt at the plant, which proves to be a fateful encounter. After five months, Claudia’s lady-friends and later her stepfather, an ex-riverboat captain, begin to notice Claudia’s pregnancy and they suspect that the young thief is the father. But at their next encounter in prison the thief vehemently denies being the father. The film is grounded in typical provincial life and looks at the energy, problems, hopes and loves of young people in the town.  The Guards is driven by superb acting; Sukhorukov (Beat the Enemy, The Passenger) is in a class all of his own, whilst the young Shagin (Innocent Saturday, Hipsters) resonates with talent. The film’s unexpected optimism is defined by the contrast between humour and sadness.

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