LA MÈRE

Life has not been kind to Lyuba, a single mother of nine children who works as a farm hand in a village in the North of Russia. When she was just 14 years old her mother sold her for a bottle of vodka to a man who raped her. Later she was forced to flee from a violent husband. Now she and her eldest daughter, Olessia, toil in the farmyard while her eldest son sits in prison. But Lyuba, whose name means 'love' in Russian, nonetheless exudes warmth and spirit.

In Lyuba's world, it is the women who must take control. Men are either absent or drunk. Joyful scenes of Olessia's wedding are tinged with a sense of unease as the bridegroom hits the bottle. It is unclear if even Lyuba's energy and devotion can break the cycle of violence and addiction, as she sees worrying tendencies in her own boys. This close and intense observation of one woman's struggles and triumphs also speaks volumes about life in modern Russia. It is testament to the dedication of a hard-working woman and a celebration of a mother's love.

Award: MDR-Award, Leipzig 2007