Under Electric Clouds (Под электрическими облаками)

In co-production with

CHANNEL ONE RUSSIA

Supported by SAGA FILM STUDIO,

TOR FILM PRODUCTION, METRANOM STUDIO

With the financial support from Ministry of Culture of Russia

With the financial support from Ukrainian State Film Agency

"There is no such thing as line and modeling.

A drawing is a relationship of contrasts

or simply the relationship between black and white." Paul Cezanne

Under Electric Clouds

We've lived through different times.

One era replaced another sending off sparks.

Good or bad, those eras were part of our life.

Countless days and nights.

Snowy winters, brief thaws, heatwaves, melting snow.

We entered each new era confused.

Crucified between equally great past and future.

It's 2017.

100 years after the Russian revolution.

Everyone's waiting for a great war.

Globalization has not united the world. History is not over.

Early Modern times are here again. Tough. With no simple solutions.

We enter a new era armed with historical experience.

But we don't notice the musty jackets of our predecessors clinging to us.

We can't tell ourselves apart from them.

But there have always been people who used to be called superfluous.

Just people, no better or worse than the others.

Others often dislike them and stick labels on them.

Yet somehow nothing in this world happens without these people.

Without them, there can be no picture of our world, our country, our time.

This is a story about them. And about an unfinished building,

which became a cornerstone in the lives of our characters.

I saw this guy. I don't think he knows that construction has stopped.

He is so miserable, out of everything. And we're so satisfied.

It's just awkward how miserable he is.

Where's your conscience? It's so cold.

You're such a pig. Take your coat off!

Mister! Immigrant!

Wait!

Put this on. Stay with us.

We'll feed you.

Chapter 1. Foreign Speech

Rashid!

How do we get to the station?

How do we get to the station?

- He can't speak. - You can't speak.

The borders are on fire. It's no time for construction.

Your construction site's closed. Go find another site!

He can't speak.

Look there! Look up there!

It's starting. For the first time. It's magic.

Understand? It's magic!

It used to be plain sky. And now there's this.

They say,

Shanghai and Tokyo will have it too.

It seems the future is here. No more ordinary lives the people used to live...

You can't be here.

What is this place?

A show or museum. Opening night.

Why the music?

They had a party. They're still partying.

My stereo is down. Where can I get it fixed?

- I can't speak. - I don't know.

If you don't understand the language, smile.

A woman got stabbed here. Make sure you always carry your ID.

I lost my purse just now. I can't find it.

Too bad, it was a nice purse.

What's the situation in China?

A crisis...

What are the forecasts?

I thought so...

A crisis...

- (speaking Kyrgyz) - Sorry. I don't get it.

I need a shop to fix electronics.

What do you need?

I need a shop to fix electronics.

You need a shop that fixes electronics?

So just ask for an electronics repair shop.

You need an electronics repair shop.

I...

The first words are very hard. Just say it:

"I need an electronics repair shop".

I...

...need...

...lectronic repairs.

I need electronics repair shop.

I speaks.

Hi.

I speaks...

I need an electronics repair shop.

I speaks.

I says.

I talks.

Chapter 2. The Heirs

You were abroad for four years? And three more before that?

Yes. I went to school, then college. I wanted to go to Istanbul but I didn't.

My father died. We came to take care of things.

Go ahead, please.

- Hello. - Hello.

Why didn't anyone come to get us?

The walls are so damp.

The roof is leaking.

Where's everyone?

Valera, Marina... The gardener, what was his name?

Sasha. We never opened the house ourselves.

The guards or someone else always did it.

I read that scientists discovered that all our feelings are just chemicals.

I think that's nonsense.

- It's not true, is it? - It's not nonsense.

- Did you hear the door? - No.

The robot's broken.

Sasha!

My darling! Poor, lonely girl.

My little girl. Life's so unfair sometimes.

There's no explaining it. You just have to try to accept it.

But acceptance is impossible.

My dear little angel.

I'm so scared and in pain, too.

There's no death, don't think of it.

Your Dad's just somewhere incredibly far away. But he's still with you.

And he loves you.

I am sorry. I couldn't come to the airport. I was busy.

There's nobody around here. Dad just fell asleep and died.

It was only us at the cemetery. Nobody came.

When he was alive, people came. Why? It used to be different.

We had parties. Musicians came from abroad.

Probably because Dad used to have tons of money.

It's okay. Go ahead and cry.

When we take care of the inheritance you'll be rich and free.

- Hi. - Hi, Uncle Boris.

The roof's leaking.

I wanted to go to Istanbul. They treat you different if you're a foreigner.

Why is it different everywhere else?

Where's everyone?

- Valera, Marina? - They all left.

Servants are like that. Useless people.

- It's cold here. - Stop complaining.

You're always cold. Your Dad was cut of stone. He made huge money.

In 20 years, he almost became a God.

No matter what, he always won. And you're an airhead.

Look, it's working again.

Sasha, let's play for a Coke.

- Do you know where we keep the sheets? - No.

Military trucks keep coming.

I found this bag. Dad gave it to me, look.

Sasha, let's travel. We'll keep going.

We'll see people, countries, and cities.

We're right to sell everything.

Assets, liabilities. We'll be free and rich.

I'll buy penthouses in New York, Paris, and Mumbai.

Maybe I'll hold a contest to help young writers.

Why is Uncle Boris so disrespectful to me?

I can't understand stupidity. I don't want to listen to you. And I won't.

You can talk all you want. I won't hear.

You're a big, immature boy. Though my brother.

You're like some cyborg from "Fallout".

- With that hearing aid, too. - These light bulbs.

They are a real cataclysm...

Danya! Sweetie! My little baby!

You sweet thing! Get up. Let's go.

My poor baby! Please get up! Let's go!

Let's go home. Don't leave me. Get up.

Get up. Please, get up.

My dear, get up. Let's go home.

Let's go, sweetie, I'll feed you.

Come on, darling, let's go. Please.

Let's go, baby. Danya... Danya!

Look, your feet are wet.

I wonder who designed this beautiful building.

Is that bag heavy? I'll put it in the car.

- It was a gift from Dad. - Sasha.

Just say thank you. And confirm that we'll sign and review everything

when we come into the inheritance.

I can't remember the name of this company Dad owned.

I should be ashamed, right?

- Uncle Boris. - I'm unhappy, too.

The Japanese are ready to buy the land.

They'll destroy the building to make it simple.

Let them make it simple. But it's a pity.

It seems broken and not broken. Dad liked it.

- Meet my wife, Angelica. - Angelica von Goering.

It's a contemporary building, isn't it?

I'm creative, too. A painter and photographer.

I follow the style of Caravaggio...

- Style of Brodsky and Caravaggio. - And Brodsky.

I see no artistic or functional value in this.

I am sorry about your loss...

But this is emotional to the point of bad taste.

What is the point then? Of course, it's sad...

You think it's important but it is not.

This building is just a monument to the ambitions of two follies.

That of the architects and of your father.

- It is sticking out. - Your nose is bleeding.

- It's ok. - Architecture must be functional.

Sasha!

- Let's have a school reunion. - Ok.

And forget about functionality.

When they stopped construction,

the architect wanted to set himself on fire.

But the wet matches didn't light. What a fool.