Synopsis
Winter 1942. Beyond the Arctic Circle, on the uninhabited island of Trofimovsk in the Laptev Sea, exiled peoples struggle to survive. This is the place chosen by Soviet authorities to deport vast numbers of inhabitants from the occupied Baltic countries, Finland, Ukraine, and elsewhere. In this harsh, alien landscape, humans are mere specks. Against the backdrop of such majestic isolation, many thousands face the savage indifference and cruelty of nature. Always living on the edge, they must find a way to survive. All experiences depicted are based on the vivid memories of those who survived.
A word from Tënk
Using the tools and poetics of animation, Lithuanian filmmakers Gintarė Valevičiūtė Brazauskienė and Antanas Skučas transform collective trauma and historical memory into a visually striking reflection on survival, resilience, and the indifference of nature, offering audiences a powerful and unforgettable encounter with history through the intimate memories of those who lived it. Drawing on testimonies from deportation survivors, the film navigates the fragile space between personal recollection and collective history, where absence, silence, and imagination become central expressive forces. In doing so, it contributes to an emerging strand within Baltic animation that merges documentary and animation, reimagining how documentary stories can be told—especially those that examine the lasting impact of Soviet violence and displacement.
Lauma Kaudzīte
Head of RIGA IFF Short Film Programme
and SHORT RIGA Test Screenings
