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Strana Sascha

The Land of Sasha
Generation 14plus 2022
© Vega Films
“I think I felt I could be interesting to you even if I was normal. Or not?”

As soon as school is over, Sasha’s otherwise relaxed and complicit mother pressures him to enroll at the university. Sasha, however, lives in the moment. Plus he currently wants to hone his graffiti skills with his friend Max. And maybe get to know his father. But then, he meets the dazzling Zhenya. Carried by the light and the ease of the summer in Kaliningrad, they fathom their feelings, talents and fears together. In her sensitive debut, Julia Trofimova tells of young people in today’s Russia who cannot possibly please everyone. Parents’ need for security is countered by a variety of possible paths and identities.

Trailer/Film Excerpt

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by Julia Trofimova (Director, Screenplay), Maria Shulgina (Screenplay), Elizaveta Tikhonova (Screenplay)
with Mark Eidelshtein, Maryia Matsel, Evgeniia Gromova, Dmitry Endaltsev, Alisa Tarasenko, Darya Rumyantseva Russian Federation 2022 Russian 83' Colour World premiere recommendation: 14 years and up

With

  • Mark Eidelshtein (Sasha)
  • Maryia Matsel (Zhenya)
  • Evgeniia Gromova (Sophia)
  • Dmitry Endaltsev (Maks)
  • Alisa Tarasenko (Liza)
  • Darya Rumyantseva (Natella)

Crew

Director Julia Trofimova
Screenplay Maria Shulgina, Elizaveta Tikhonova, Julia Trofimova based on the novel „Strana Sascha“ by Gala Uzryutova
Cinematography Egor Povolotskiy
Editing Marsel Shamshulin
Music Sergei Stern
Sound Design Vladislav Vdovin
Sound Viktor Timshin
Production Design Aleksandra Antonova
Costumes Svetlana Shadrina
Make-Up Nelli Belkovskaya
Casting Vladimir Golov, Olga Aulina
Assistant Director Elia Krupina
Production Manager Ivan Borisov
Executive Producer Ivan Borisov
Line Producer Tatiana Moiseeva
Producers Katerina Mikhaylova, Konstantin Fam

Produced by

Vega Film

Moskau, Russian Federation

Photos

Julia Trofimova

© Julia Trofimova

The director was born in Kaluga, Russia and currently lives in Moscow. She studied screenwriting and film at the New York Film Academy, followed by film directing at the Moscow School of New Cinema. Her short films have screened successfully at over 70 international festivals.

Filmography

2018 The Narrator; short film 2019 Tramvai (The Tram); short film 2020 Pyat minut na lyubov (Five Minutes for Love); short film 2021 Instalife; web series 2022 Strana Sascha (The Land of Sasha)

Bio- & filmography as of Berlinale 2022