During the day, Lera studies humankind and its needs through opinion polls, which are an educational practice at the institute; at night, she dances under the pseudonym Gerda in a club to support herself and her mother. The people she meets are as unfortunate as her family. Her father has recently left for another woman, but he constantly returns home, unable to make his choice and thereby making the life of close people intolerable. The mother painfully endures the breakup and constantly sleeps, ignoring reality. Lera doesn’t know how to carry on, where to go and what to live for, and — most importantly — how to improve life. The adult world, invariable unfortunate, which Lera observes day and night, seems hopeless.
Alexey Vladimirovich Chupov (Russian: Алексе́й Влади́мирович Чу́пов; born 29 May, 1973; Moscow) is a Russian filmmaker, screenwriter, producer and creator. Since 2013, he has been working in duo with his wife filmmaker Natalya Merkulova (b. 1979). He is most famous for "Intimate Parts" (2013, codirected with Natalya Merkulova) that was a part of Kinotavr Film Festival and won an award for the best debut, and "The Man Who Surprised Everyone" (2018, codirected with Natalya Merkulova) that was a members for the Horizons (Orizzonti) section of 75th Venice International Film Festival. His 2021 film "Captain Volkonogov Escaped" (codirected with Natalya Merkulova) was selected for the main competition at the 78th Venice International Film Festival.