Clouds Over Borsk

A young physics teacher fresh out of university, Kira arrives to manage a challenging ninth-grade class of 'war children.' She navigates a demanding classroom with empathy, trying to balance professional boundaries and genuine care. As she uncovers the sect's tactics, she becomes a catalyst for truth, standing against manipulation while protecting her students.

A distant, hardworking student who serves as a Pioneer leader, seeking warmth and belonging through public service. Her official role becomes a refuge from an emotionally unavailable father, yet it also pulls her away from her family. Drawn to the sect's sense of community, she gradually abandons her old life, risking isolation.

A devout Pentecostal orphan who openly preaches and embodies strong religious conviction. His faith draws Olya into the sect, fueling his influence over the group. His steadfast beliefs highlight the pull of belonging, and his earnestness reveals the vulnerabilities of spiritual searching in a changing town.

A loyal classmate who resists the sect's pull and ultimately helps rescue Olya. He represents practical solidarity and courage among peers, challenging groupthink and offering a voice of reason in a heated moment.

The manipulative figurehead behind the sect's recruitment and control. They frame humility and pride as moral sins, using communal rituals to consolidate power over vulnerable youths. Their calculus culminates in a coercive symbolic act, testing the town's resolve to confront manipulation.

The school’s authority figure pressed by the sect’s rising influence. He must balance institutional caution with the urgent need to protect students from manipulation, reflecting the tension between tradition and reform in a town facing rapid change.

A distant, workaholic father who provides financially but remains emotionally unavailable. His absence intensifies Olya’s longing for belonging and contributes to her susceptibility to the sect's promises.