The Way of the Dead

The true story of a hunter from the Siberian Mansi people

Sasha lives far from civilisation on the upper Pelym River, which originates in the foothills of the Urals. Just twenty years ago, there were settlements of several Mansi families here, but they have disappeared one by one. Only Sasha remains in the forests, where he hunts moose and bears. But as his friends dwindle, his bond with the bottle of cheap alcohol grows ever stronger. In a drunken state, he even raises his hand against one of his remaining companions, Petka. And although forgiveness becomes almost a necessity of life in the loneliness of the vast taiga, justice will soon reach here too. But not even a prison can bind a hunter's soul. A free life in his native taiga comes alive in Sasha's memories of his family and in the images of old stories. In the end, however, time itself inflicts the worst punishment—upon his return home, Sasha's relatives are dead, and he loses his meaning in life. His gradual departure from this world begins, accompanied by personal demons and the spirits of the forest.
Sasha's character reflects the sad history of the small Mansi nation, which fell victim to the Soviet era and its demise.