The Major

Yuri Bykov

Focus Russia 99 min Fiction

Synopsis

There’s no way back, once you cross the line. On a cold winter’s day Sergey Sobolev, a major at the local police office, is driving to the hospital where his wife is about to give birth to their child. High from happiness, he’s driving too fast and runs down a boy on a passage walk, who dies. Now the major has only two options: go to prison or conceal the crime. Sobolev decides to compromise with his conscience, and he calls on a colleague to help him out. But the case turns out to be messy and when Sobolev finally changes his mind and tries to make up for his deed, it’s already too late…

Themes

European CinemaSocial IssuesThriller

Filmmaker

Yuri Bykov

Born into a humble family, his studies as an actor led him to meet the filmmaker Aleksei Uchitel, who became the producer of his first works. The Mayor, his second film, is selected for Cannes Critics’ Week, and from here begins a powerful filmography that offers a vision as acidic as realistic of the darkest and most hidden aspects of Russian society.

Filmography: Storozh (2019), The Factory (2018), Yolki 1914 (codirected, 2014), The Fool (2014, D'A 2015), The Major (2013, D'A 2014, D'A 2022), Live! (2010), Nachalnik (short, 2009)

Yuri Bykov

Film information

Original Title: Mayor
Director: Yuri Bykov
Script: Yuri Bykov
Contact: M-Appeal
With: Denis Shvedov, Irina Nizina, Ilya Isaev, Yuri Bykov
Country: Russia
Year: 2013
Format: DCP
Length: 99 min
Language: Russian
Subtitles: Catalan, English
Edition: 2022

Awards

SHANGHAI FILM FESTIVAL
Best Film
Best Direction
Outstanding Artistic Achievement

Poster

The Major