II (2019)
Production & Genre
Histoire
An old groom walks in the open horizon towards a bride waiting for him. They meet but the distance between them starts to grow once again.
Résumé
In a small Belarusian town, Nastya, Sasha, and Kristina, all 16, navigate teenage life with its usual trials and dreams. Nastya aspires to study in Poland, attending private language tutoring sessions weekly with Sasha by her side. Bullied at school due to whispers about his sexuality, Sasha bears the weight of prejudice silently. Meanwhile, Kristina's focus is on her new boyfriend, showing little interest in academics. Their strict, unyielding school, unchanged from Soviet times, provides a stark contrast to their personal lives. An unconventional English teacher offers a glimmer of change. When a seismic event exposes deep-seated fears and hatred towards 'others', the trio's worlds are irrevocably altered. Timid Sasha and confident Nastya find themselves violently ostracized for perceived differences, confronting alarming misconceptions about HIV and homosexuality.
