CHELYABINSK

ЧЕЛЯБИНСК - CHELYABINSK

By Frederick PAXTON

TOGETHER FILMS - as CONS

Documentary - Completed 2017

Set against the backdrop of one of Russia's most industrially brutal and polluted cities, Chelyabinsk explores social and gender dynamics of Russian youth through the paradigms and preconceptions of the country’s most prominent sports: ice hockey and rhythmic gymnastics.

    • Year of production
    • 2017
    • Genres
    • Documentary
    • Countries
    • UNITED KINGDOM
    • Languages
    • RUSSIAN
    • Duration
    • 71 mn
    • Director(s)
    • Frederick PAXTON
    • Producer(s)
    • Frederick PAXTON, Maria BABIKOVA
    • Synopsis
    • Straddling the boundaries of cinema vérité and visual art, Chelyabinsk explores social and gender dynamics of Russian youth through the paradigms and preconceptions of the country’s most prominent sports: ice hockey and rhythmic gymnastics. The two respectively embody Russia’s nationalistic interpretation of hyper masculine and feminine ideals, which are uncovered against the densely polluted and brutalist backdrop of the region.

      The film is set in Chelyabinsk - an industrially brutal city in the Ural mountains in Russia. Perched on the edge of Siberia, the region became the heartland of Russia’s industry during the Second World War, and remains the country’s industrial stronghold today.
 The city itself plays a crucial role in the film - given the title. With limited resources and prospects available, sport has become a way of perceived social mobility for many young girls and boys living in in Chelyabinsk. The inherent beauty, fascination and pain that belong to both ice hockey and gymnastics, is juxtaposed with the harsh industrial landscapes of the city.

      The film focuses on Max - a young hockey player, who plays for “Traktor” - one of Russia’s best hockey teams, аnd Alina - a young rhythmic gymnast. As both characters are introduced through training and competitions, they become a window into a world so we often heard about, but do not fully understood in reality.

      The film does not follow a traditional narrative trajectory of documentary filmmaking - it is a subtle and experimental take on the modern reality of living in a dystopian Post-Soviet Russia.
 As we follow the everyday lives of Max and Alina, the complex web that makes up the fabric of Russian society is decoded. Both hockey and gymnastics become representative of the ideals of femininity and masculinity within Russian society - the idea that men should be strong, powerful and not show fear, and that women should be beautiful, refined and poised. As athletes Max and Alina practice and compete in their chosen sports, we understand the pressure placed upon them in a society where appearance and status rule.

      In a place with limited opportunities, sport becomes one of the few options to better oneself, to move away from a difficult life working in factories or on shop floor. Sport offers hope, the opportunity of something better, and is emblematic of a strong work ethic embodied in Soviet ideals. Alongside modern ideals of beauty, intense personal comparison and judgement of social media, we see a society confused about its identity.

      Producer Maria Babikova was born and grew up in Chelyabinsk. She also trained as a professional rhythmic gymnast. This allowed her and director Frederick Paxton unique and rare access to present this story from a new perspective.