Explores an uncomfortable reality, in which opportunities for rebellion are slim and fulfilling aspirations entails escape or collaboration ... Satchkova’s urgent novel asks whether 'integrity’s just a word' or if genuine political decisions can be made between a rock and a hard place.
Engaging ... Vivid ... This disquieting novel illustrates the manifold trials suffered by those — perhaps especially the innocent — who are subjected to authoritarianism.
A novel about filmmaking that gets the details down: the on-set bustle, the conflicting angles of vision, the struggle to stay under budget, the egos of bankable stars, the hyperbolic media ... A brisk, vivid page turner that evades mere polemics.
A compelling and timely story, both very Russian and all too universal. Often Satchkova tells rather than shows, which can make the narrative a bit dry and hurried, keeping readers at an emotional distance. Overall, though, this novel takes some dark themes and casts them into a bright light, offering much to consider about art, freedom, propaganda and responsibility.
Some ostensibly humorous elements—Maya’s romantic foibles and professional jealousies—fail to fully land, but her fraught relationships with fellow filmmakers adds to the novel’s bleakly ironic conclusion. Throughout, Satchkova sustains an ominous vibe in her depiction of authoritarianism. It’s a convincing cautionary tale of the dangers of political apathy.
