THE RUSSIANS IN THE WOODS
A feature film by VICTORIA SCHULTZ
76min / B&W / shot on 35mm film in France
In 1939 Soviet Russia invaded Finland triggering a war with devastating repercussions. Twenty years later the scars left by Russia’s invasion are at the center of THE RUSSIANS IN THE WOODS, a noir tale in which Alex and Iris, two young Finns, are haunted by the country’s political past.
Alex believes Soviet soldiers still lurk as a menace in Finland’s woods. Iris investigates his claims. Through memories and surreal fantasies, they overcome their painful secrets and win their love for each other.
With a situation much like the present-day conflict in Ukraine, THE RUSSIANS IN THE WOODS points out the importance of dealing with Europe’s collective wartime traumas, old ones and the new ones arising at record speed today.