The film takes place in the village Yakutia, in the Siberian far east, and it is spoken mostly in the Yakut language. More or less modern times.
A Siberian healer, the witch on the outskirts, is bullied and shunned by the villagers until they need her services. Services which take a toll on her. She's got a bit of a vodka problem, easy to see why. She tries to refuse but her conscience gets in the way.
Each time she succumbs to help she pays a price. Usually followed by vodka. Conditions are harsh, bitter cold. She dances alone in her shack, confronting her demons and maybe those she's taken from others. She's searching for a lost daughter.
There are some in town who like her, those she's helped, but they are conflicted with the group mind where she is an outcast.
Mad props to the lead actress!
Plot summary
People avoid and fear her but make their way quietly to her door, because only she can resolve problems of all kinds. She is a healer, a hermit, a holy fool and a drinker, who gave up on herself a long time ago. She knows the saving grace she administers is destroying her. But try as she may, she never succeeds at withholding anything.
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everything has its price
Sacrifice, or taking other people's pain.
The film takes place in a village in Sakha (Yakutia),in the Siberian far east, and it is spoken mostly in the Yakut language.
The central caracter is a lonely female witch-doctor (a kind of shaman woman) who is feared, misunderstood and maltreated by most of the villagers, young and old alike. Her behaviour does not conform to the accepted standards. However, when problems arise and accidents happen, the villagers resort to her, often paying in kind by buying her food and vodka. After which they go back to ostracising her.
Her shamanic healing practice, accompanied by strange rituals, takes a toll on the woman's vital energy. Every time she helps someone she is seen vomiting and feeling unwell afterwards. She is aware of this, and often tries to refuse, but mostly gives in. She abuses the vodka she receives to go into some lonely stupor and dance. There are also hints about some important personal loss in the past which haunts her.
Beautifully filmed (we are told that in early winter, when the really harsh cold is still to come) with some unusual camera angles. An interesting psychological study, both of the main character as well as of the people who use her and abuse her. The acting by Valentina Romanova-Chyskyyray is powerful, courageous, very impressive.