THE MAN WHO SURPRISED EVERYONE

THE MAN WHO SURPRISED EVERYONE (CHELOVEK, KOTORYY UDIVIL VSEK), 2018
Russia, France, Estonia | DCP, Color, 105’ | Russian
Directors: Alexey Chupov, Natalya Merkulova
Cast: Evgeniy Tsyganov, Natalya Kudryashova, Yuriy Kuznetsov

The ordinary life of Egor, a state forest guard in rural Russia, is turned upside down when he learns that he has cancer with only two months to live. He seeks help from a local shamanic magician, but nothing changes. As a last resort, he decides to follow in the footsteps of Zhamba, a folk tale character, who supposedly had cheated death. This is a road less traveled, and will surprise everyone around him and put him at odds with the patriarchal attitudes of rural Russia. With an observant narrative, the film examines the position Russia takes in response to questions of gender.