About Him or How He Did Not Fear the Bear

How does society react to a pointless attack, to violence without any clear motive? The community in the Armenian city of Gyumri faces this conundrum when a Russian soldier kills seven members of a family. Nariné Mkrtchyan and Arsen Azatyan use footage of the real protests following the slaughter but fictionalize the actual event. Their soldier is called Ivan, just like the fool from Russian folklore, who they have interwoven into their narrative in a children’s show.

The film focuses on the aftermath of the drama, with the characters symbolizing the contradictory reactions evoked by events. The soldier is arrested, but war veterans Vahan and Sargis demand retribution and will do this themselves if necessary. The priest Avetis, however, calls on the people to keep calm and patient, while Vahan’s young wife Ani is very concerned. They each seek in their own way to recover the dignity taken from them.

Festivals:
International Film Festival Rotterdam 2019
Uruguaya International Film Festival 2019
Eurasian Bridge Yalta International Film Festival 2019
Hainan Island International Film Festival 2019