Far Eastern Golgotha

Russia2021documentary85'Konkurs dokumentalny (2021)

‘It’s better to be a clown than an intelligent slave’- thinks Viktor Toropcev, a taxi driver and vlogger from Khabarovsk Krai in the eastern corner of the Russian empire. The protagonist starts a fight with Leviathan – local corruption, omnipresent hopelessness and the intimidation of anarchists. As a husband, father and a self-made man he has a lot to lose. The whistle blower’s only weapon is a popular channel on YouTube. Contrary to the title, the film does not show a typical ordeal, but a consistent policy of small steps that aims to wake up Russian society from slumber. The winner of the Golden Horn Award at the 61st Krakow Film Festival: "The Jury unanimously loved the vitality of this film and the mature talent of its young director. It shows us a socially desperate but charismatic man using disobedience to fight for democracy."