Бэркэ

A quiet, immersive documentary that follows a determined elder into the snowy taiga, blending real-world tension with the surreal pull of online fame.

Directed by

Nikita Aniskin

Genres

Documentary

Overview

The small village of Khatystyr in the forests of southern Yakutia has long been considered the land of the Evenki. Recently, popular ethnobloggers have emerged here, sharing stories of Tungus culture with hundreds of thousands of followers online. Timofey Ivanovich is over sixty. He is a wolf hunter, and so he adopted the online pseudonym Berke (Evenk for "wolf"). Berke is an old-timer, a keeper of traditions, respected and called upon at crucial moments. Now such a moment has arrived: the wolves have returned. Hungry packs are crushing reindeer and moving toward the village. Berke ventures alone into the taiga to drive off the predators. In his real world, he has only a rifle and a video camera. And in his virtual world, there are millions of views and thousands of comments. This is the story of how a keeper of national myths saves his small people from the scourge of wolves, and ultimately becomes a new folk legend himself.

How it feels

Earnest, tense, melancholic and warm. Measured and needs your attention.

About

Survival, trauma, isolation, identity

Content

Mild violence. No gore, sexual content or swearing.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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