When people think of the international film industry, the first thing that comes to mind likely is not Russia, and it certainly isn't Chukotka, the country's easternmost region. Occupied by ethnic Russians, Chukchis, and other Indigenous peoples, Chukotka is an unforgiving region of ice and permafrost. It is also the closest Russian territory to the United States, and Alaska, only 83 kilometres away, can be observed from some of the region's hills. But there is also a sublime sense of beauty among Chukotka's unbearably cold conditions, observed within the frosty barren landscapes and the resilient culture of its inhabitants. In his debut feature film, writer-director Philipp Yuryev does an amazing job of translating Chukotka's beauty onto the big screen through masterful camerawork, unique characters and an incredibly moving story.
“The Whaler Boy” is screening at the Black Movie International Festival of Independent Films
‘The Whaler Boy' follows several days in the life of 15 year-old Leshka as he navigates early adulthood and fulfills his daily duties. Like most other men in his coastal town, Leshka works as a whale hunter; yet unlike others, he has the responsibility of taking care of a hypochondriac grandfather who constantly believes that he is on the brink of death. When he is not working or spending time with his grandfather, he enjoys going on motorbike rides with Kolyan, his best friend.Â
In the opening scene of the film, several young Chukotkan men are shown huddled in front of a laptop, watching a camgirl with the username HollySweet_999. This event marks the introduction of the internet to the Chukotkan coastal town; it also marks the beginning of Leshka's obsession with HollySweet_999, a source on sexual excitement for a young man who has absolutely no understanding of the adult film industry. Determined to locate HollySweet_999 and confess his love to her, Leshka struggles to create an escape plan out of Chukotka and into Detroit, where his object of desire supposedly lives. However, ‘The Whaler Boy' is not only a tale of a young man's destructive path towards his amorphous infatuation; it is also a story about feeling trapped by obligations to friends and family, and desperately yearning for a way out of one's hometown.
‘The Whaler Boy' is a poignant film, in its storytelling ability as well as its form. Scenes of Leshka and Kolyan riding their motorbike are accompanied by the ethereal dream-pop of Julee Cruise, and a feeling of euphoria is contrasted with the dry plains in the background. Vladimir Onokhov is bound to move viewers with his convincing performance as the 15 year-old protagonist Leshka, and Vladimir Lyubimtsev does a great job acting as Kolyan, his crass-yet-innocent best friend. The appearances of English speakers Arieh Worthalter (as the American Border Patrol guard) and Maria Chuprinskaia (as a blond escort) are fleeting, but their performances are certain to make an impression despite their brevity. This all comes together in a wonderful way in the final five minutes, adding a spiritual and multi-interpretational touch to an already stunning creation.
In its first half, ‘The Whaler Boy' might seem to be about the wonders of globalization, and a young boy being seduced by the Western world. However, the movie has nothing to do with leaving home; it is instead a celebration of Chukotkan culture, and embraces their truly one-of-a-kind lifestyle.
