In this tale of contemporary Russia, a young filmmaker and her friends run afoul of a government that ruthlessly oppresses artists who dare to satirize the regime.
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.
