The story revolves around Natalya, a survivor of the 2002 Dubrovka theater hostage crisis, who returns to the site years later to organize a memorial event, confronting trauma, guilt, and the weight of unresolved memories.

The design carefully balances realism with a symbolic representation of memory and grief. The empty theater, which serves as the film’s primary setting, is depicted as a cold, decaying space—dust-covered seats, peeling paint, and dimly lit corridors evoke both the physical passage of time and the lingering emotional scars of the tragedy. The desolate atmosphere reinforces the film’s themes of isolation and unhealed wounds.

The contrast between past and present is subtly reflected in the set design. While flashbacks or recollections hint at the theater’s former vibrancy, its present state is devoid of warmth, emphasizing how trauma has drained life from the space. Sparse furnishings and muted colors dominate the visual palette, enhancing the bleak and introspective tone.
The spatial composition creates a sense of emptiness and disconnection. Characters are often framed in large, empty spaces, underscoring their psychological isolation.

Director: Ivan Tverdovsky
Director of Photogrpahy: Feodor Glazachev
Production Designer: Vanya Bowden

2020