SYNOPSIS

 

The film is shot on location in St Petersburg (Russia) on May 9, 2022. Every year, on May 9, Russian people celebrate their victory over Nazi Germany in WWII.
In 2022, Victory Day festivities proceed as usual, perhaps, with even more public enthusiasm than ever. For months now, Russia has been waging a war on neighbouring Ukraine and has occupied parts of Ukrainian territory.

St Petersburg city centre is richly decorated for the festivities. Crowds of people are celebrating in the streets, dancing and singing. WWII veterans are narrating stories about their past victory over fascism to schoolchildren and talking about Russia’s present-day struggle against “fascism” in Ukraine.

Then the Victory parade begins. The so-called “Immortal Regiment” marches along the streets of St Petersburg: people carry portraits of their dead relatives, who perished on the battlefields of the Great Patriotic War (WWII). They wave banners with patriotic slogans and chant: “Ukraine is Russia!”. Victory Day culminates in a grandiose fireworks display.

The debut film by Nicole Philmon paints a vivid, uncompromising and terrifying portrait of a society, committing moral and political suicide.

​

Documentary, colour, 2024, 98 min.