Veronika Kuznetsova

The film’s hero, Ilyich, cannot understand what’s wrong with him. Ilyich is a for- mer “mole”, an external observation agent in the KGB, then FSB. A skilled instructor. Now he is retired. From loneliness, he continues to watch those who catch his attention and curiosity. The doctor diagnoses him with empty sella syndrome (the syndrome of an empty Turkish Seat), which poses no danger for society... One day new neighbours move in, a young couple of musicians, and Ilyich’s life changes...

Cold autumn of 1942. Second year of war. Former Molotov city, which was renamed after the war to Perm. The Leningrad Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet after Kirov is evacuated here and in the process of tense preparations for the premiere of the Gayane ballet. In 8 hours Khachaturian writes the most performed creation…