Something Better to Come

Ten-year-old Yula lives in one of the most desolate places on Earth: the Svalka, the biggest junkyard in Europe, 20 km outside the center of Moscow. Surrounded by a tall fence and guards, the area is closely monitored to keep intruders out.

In the junkyard lives a group of people in a small, lawless society. These people make up Yula’s closest family; here she lives her life, and from here her future springs.

For a period of 14 years, the film follows Yula’s life.

Something Better to Come has won the following awards:
Special Jury Award: International Documentary Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) 2014
Trieste Film Festival: The Alpe Adria Cinema Award, Best Documentary
Art DocFest Moscow: Grand Prix of ArtDoc
ZagrebDox 2015: Special Mention
FIFDH, Geneva: The Youth Jury Price, Creative Documentary
EuroDok: Jury Award, Best Documentary
One World Brussels: Special Mention
Documenta Madrid: Second Price of the Jury
Doc.fest Munich: VIKTOR Main Competition DOK.international
Docs Against Gravity: Millennium Award for Best Feature Documentary Film
Docs Against Gravity: Canon Non Fiction Frame - Special Mention

“The living conditions of Yula and the others we meet may seem dehumanizing, but Ms. Polak finds humanity nonetheless.” (Neil Genzlinger, New York Times)