Kukolka

KUKOLKA brings the dark side of top-level sport to light, which was not talked about at the time. Tanya is a 16-year-old gymnast and already a world champion who has travelled the globe. When her career ends abruptly following a back injury, she is sent to a school in her hometown in the Russian provinces. With her trained will and physical strength, she resists the other students’ attempts at bullying, becomes head of the class and declares open warfare on the young classroom teacher, who has been emotionally manipulating her students. The story takes a tragic turn when romantic feelings enter the situation and Tanya’s tough façade crumbles. Tanya is played by Svetlana Zasypkina, an ex-gymnast with a similar biography to her. The interview with Svetlana and documentary footage of the girls’ tough gymnastics training in the opening scenes together with Vladimir Nakhabtsev’s dynamic camerawork, which actively works with close-ups, create a sense of physical proximity and give the film a great emotional intensity. (nf/gv)