Earning a pittance for gruelling and dangerous work, and often unpaid for months, the miners of Inta, in northern Russia, are forced to supplement their income with a bit of holiday moonlighting: every November, they join gangs of seasonal workers who slaughter and skin reindeer herds on the snow-covered plains. For many, this gruesome occupation, done with some reluctance, is more than just a money-spinner and source of extra meat; it has become a catharsis for men who spend most of their lives underground. A stark and haunting vision of the grim lot of Russian miners sacrificed on the altar of free market reforms.

Studio Director Viacheslav Telnov is a guest of the Festival.