Stockholm Film Festival

Growing up is hard, no matter where you live. Whether in the US, Sweden, Italy or the suburbs of Moscow, being an adolescent is never fun. The former Soviet Union capital is where young director Valeriya Gai Germanika introduces us to Katya, Zhanna and Vika, three girls getting ready for the big school disco on Saturday. Great plans are being made for the party. But then Katya, the lippiest of the three, insults a teacher. As a result, the whole disco runs the risk of being cancelled. Knowing that her abusive father will beat her up because of this, the rebellious youngster decides to not return home. Inseparable at first, the girls’ friendship is truly tested by Katya’s behavior. Their lives get more and more complicated, both at home and at school, where the never-ending popularity contest goes on. Who will finish last?

With almost no background music and the camera ruthlessly close to the actors, Everybody Dies but Me has a documentary feel to it. Gai Germanika’s first feature film is raw, gruesome and honest, yet pretty; a depiction of all the troubles a teenager goes through.

Premiere Status

Nordic Premiere

Orig. title

Vse Umrut, a ya Ostanus

Cast

Polina Filonenko, Agnia Kuznetsova, Olga Shuvalova

Producer

Igor Tolstunov

Script

Yuri Klavdiyev

Cinematography

Alisher Khamidkhodjaev

Spoken language

Russian

 

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