Drumroll

The narrative unfolds over a single winter in the wake of the Soviet Union's dissolution, when borders were redefined and economies collapsed. It captures a time of social upheaval and transition, where individuals drift between makeshift homes and ambiguous loyalties.

A bleak urban tapestry unfolds across a hostel, crowded subway tunnels, a busy diner, and a vast dumping ground where the homeless live. The action moves across borders between newly formed post-Soviet states, highlighting fragile economies and shifting identities. The environments feel cold and indifferent, mirroring the drummer's restless journey from place to place.

🥁 Obsession

The drummer's attachment to the Stradivarius drum grows beyond music, turning the instrument into a coercive companion. The drum seems to take on a life of its own, guiding the journey and isolating him from ordinary life. The film uses this obsession to explore loyalty, control, and what art demands from its creator.

🧭 Displacement

Across borders and a city dump, the drummer becomes a wanderer, stripped of property and identity. His trek through post-Soviet spaces highlights how borders, poverty, and social systems can push a person into exile. The journey becomes a search for belonging and stability amid a changing landscape.

🏚️ Marginalization

Homelessness and social invisibility sit at the center of the story, showing how those on the margins navigate cold streets and crowded cities. The narrative contrasts rough, practical survival with the fragility of dignity. The drum's keeper is constantly reminded that society often overlooks the living and the dead alike.

🤝 Cross-cultural Exchange

Even among disparate communities, people share wisdom and music, crossing cultural lines between Russian and French homeless groups. The drummer's collaboration with a Black French colleague reveals a universal language of rhythm and friendship. The mockumentary-style ending frames the origins of percussion in timeless terms, underscoring art's transnational reach.