Cesta mrtvých - Život a smrt Alexandra Nikolajeviče, lovce národa Mansů – Boukal Tomáš (2021)

The True Story of a Hunter from the Siberian Mansi Nation Sasha lives far from civilization on the upper reaches of the Pelym River, which springs from the foothills of the Urals. Just twenty years ago, settlements of several Mansi families stood here, but one by one they are disappearing. Only Sasha remains in the forests — hunting moose and bears, and as his friends dwindle, he increasingly strengthens his bond with a bottle of cheap alcohol. In his drunkenness, he reaches out to one of the remaining companions, Peťka. And although in the solitude of the vast taiga, forgiveness becomes almost a necessity of life, justice soon reaches even here. Even prison cannot bind the soul of a hunter. The free life in his native taiga comes alive in Sasha's memories of family and in the images of old stories. The worst punishment is ultimately meted out by time itself — upon returning home, Sasha's relatives are dead, and he loses the meaning of life. Thus begins his gradual departure from this world, accompanied by personal demons and the spirits of the forest that accompany his people. Sasha's character reflects the sad history of the small Mansi nation, which became a victim of the Soviet era and its demise.