About Him or How He Did Not Fear the Bear
A film in search of the motives behind and the response to the nightly killer-spree by a Russian lone wolf, slaughtering an entire Armenian family.
112'
Armenia
IFFR 2019
How does society react to a pointless attack, to violence without any clear motive? The community in the Armenian city of Gyumri faces this conundrum when a Russian soldier kills seven members of a family. Nariné Mkrtchyan and Arsen Azatyan use shots of the real protests following the slaughter but fictionalise the true event. Their soldier is called Ivan, just like the fool from Russian folklore, who they have interwoven into their narrative in a children’s show.
The film focuses on the aftermath of the drama, with the characters symbolising the contradictory reactions evoked by events. The soldier is arrested, but war veterans Vahan and Sargis demand retribution and will do this themselves if necessary. The priest Avetis, however, calls on the people to keep calm and patient, while Vahan’s young wife Ani is very concerned. They each seek in their own way to recover the dignity taken from them.
Nariné Mkrtchyan, Arsen Azatyan
IFFR 2019
Programme IFFR 2019
Familiar faces from the world of film: new work from established filmmakers, auteurs and festival veterans.
Read more about this programmeA film in search of the motives behind and the response to the nightly killer-spree by a Russian lone wolf, slaughtering an entire Armenian family.
112'
Armenia
IFFR 2019
Essayist road movie on the relation between England's Manchester and philosopher Friedrich Engels, founder of communism. Are his ideas still alive?
67'
United Kingdom
IFFR 2019
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125'
Italy
IFFR 2019