Directed by Dmitry Davydov • 2016 • Russia/Sakha Republic

Set in the remote reaches of the Sakha Republic, The Bonfire is a modern-day parable of guilt and redemption. Dmitry Davydov’s breakthrough film centres on Ignat (Aleksei Ustinov), an elderly craftsman whose son causes the death of his cousin. As the tragic consequences of this accident mount, Ignat strikes up an unlikely relationship with a troubled local boy (Radislav Kudai-Zakharov), who may offer the bereaved old man a path back to the world – if the spirit of vengeance can be put to rest. Performed with great power by non-professional actors and making full use of the harsh beauty of the region, Davydov’s sparse and profound film represented a breakthrough moment for the burgeoning Sakha film industry.

THE BONFIRE • КОСТЁР НА ВЕТРУ
Written and directed by Dmitry Davydov
Cinematography by Ivan Semenov
Music by Moisei Kobyakov
Starring: Alexei Ustinov, Nikolai Soldatov, Radislav Kudai-Zakharov

In Sakha with English subtitles