Despite the Falling Snow Page #2

Synopsis: In 1950s Moscow, communist Katya secretly spies for the Americans in the Cold War arms race. When she lands her biggest assignment, stealing secrets from rising government star Alexander, the last thing she expects is to fall in love with him. Reconciling her passion for him with her beliefs about communism means making the greatest sacrifice - of her life - a sacrifice that Alexander only uncovers thirty years later.
Director(s): Shamim Sarif
Production: Enlightenment Productions
  12 wins & 1 nomination.
 
IMDB:
5.8
Metacritic:
33
Rotten Tomatoes:
10%
PG-13
Year:
2016
93 min
Website
302 Views


new textures.

Is that important?

I mean, it's only.. pleasure.

I have never eaten

like that before.

I grew up thinking

food was just.. fuel.

- Where did you grow up?

- Here, in Moscow.

In many different apartments.

Different families.

What happened

to your parents, Katya?

Nothing more than what happened to

millions of families.

They were anti-Stalinists

and open about it.

They were punished

for their opinions.

Everybody was.

And what is your opinion now?

Now, I'm a proud communist.

Crimes of one man don't negate

a whole ideology, do they?

How old were you?

Eleven.

- I'm so sorry, Katya.

- No.

- Katya...

- It's late.

- I'll take you home.

- No. Thank you.

Yuri! Yuri!

No!

Mama!

Mama!

You know, Marina was the one who

told me about your work.

If it wasn't for her,

you wouldn't be here.

- I had to see it again.

- Didn't know you recommended me to the gallery.

Does it matter?

I thought I was

here on merit.

Nadia makes her own decisions.

I just recommended you after

I saw you in the newspaper.

You get American

newspapers here?

You can get most things

if you know where to look.

How is your uncle feeling

about you being here?

Well, he's not happy.

But I want to find out

more about Katya for myself.

Why?

She was a spy.

You might need some help.

It's only bad when you're tired.

And in a bloody arms race with the

Americans, when am I not tired?

- What does the doctor say?

- He says there's nothing to be done.

And now reading's a problem,

and, in five years, I won't be able to

see my own hand in front of my face.

I need your help.

Read these tonight and tell me about them

in the morning. All right?

I'm not cleared

for these files.

Who can I ask

if not you, Sasha?

Who is this girl

you're seeing?

Um, you mean Katya. She's... Well, it's only

been a couple of times.

Four..

Parents shot as dissidents.

Brother Yuri went with a dance troupe

to America and never came back.

She deserves to be judged

on her own merits.

That's very modern

of you, Sasha.

Luckily, she was head of

her pioneer brigade at school.

Denounced her father

in writing when asked.

Mmm, hasn't put

her foot wrong.

- Will that be all, sir?

- Mmm, yes, yes.

Watch where you're going!

- You okay?

- Yeah.

- We're closed.

- I have clearance for extra research time.

I'll tell my daughter I met you.

We read all your articles.

We need 1961. KGB.

Thirty minutes.

Do you really think they would have

documented what happened to Katya?

Hard to know.

Do these names mean

anything to you?

- "Andrei Gorodovsky, dead 1961."

- No.

- "Anna Petrova," also dead.

- No.

- "Mikhail Ardonov..."

- Wait, "Ardonov"?

My uncle's best friend

was Misha Ardonov.

"Misha" is the diminutive

for "Mikhail."

According to this, he was the

leader of Katya's spy cell,

and he's still alive.

- Oh, just play, Misha.

- Mmm-mmm.

Genius can't be rushed, my friends.

- Checkmate.

- Ah...

I didn't want to embarrass

him in front of you.

Oh, very kind, Misha.

You hungry?

Very.

Again?

Thinking up some new chess moves?

He's good at chess.

What about other things?

You need to be careful, Katya.

You start off playing a role, and suddenly it

doesn't feel like acting anymore.

He's nice.

It makes it easier.

A little easier.

I think it's time you took something from him.

It's too early.

I thought blind Dmitri gave him papers

to read every night.

- Sometimes.

- Good. Well, take whatever he brings next time.

Photograph it. You remember it if you have to.

Hungry?

Mmm. Starving.

What is the maestro chef cooking today?

A chicken.

Hardly anyone

can buy a whole chicken.

I know, but I wanted

you to have it.

Please don't make me feel guilty

for wanting to buy you things.

How was work today?

You make me look at things

differently, Katya.

All I do is push paper from one side

of my desk to the other. I don't...

I don't really help anyone.

I understand.

Just give me a minute.

Go, then.

Leave me if you must.

Katya?

Coming.

Are you sure?

Oh, yes.

I love you, Katya.

And the address?

Perfect. Thanks.

Misha was living in the north

until two years ago.

Now he's back in Moscow.

He's back.

Shut up!

So, Marina let somebody hug her!

Miracles happen.

Can I make a call from here?

The queue at the hotel is impossible,

and I have to tell him.

- Your uncle?

- Mmm-hmm.

Give me the number. I'll try it for you.

Thanks.

No answer.

Okay.

Why don't you write a note, and I'll have

one of the guys, uh, fax it tonight.

Okay, sure.

Thanks.

Thank you for helping me today.

It's a long time since

I spent a day with anyone.

Except at work.

Don't you have any friends?

I'm used to being alone.

You like that one?

I... I didn't mean...

If you like it.

Thank you.

I should go. It's late.

You're welcome to stay. You know, if you want

a break from being alone.

Can we go and see Misha

tomorrow morning?

Yes.

Thank you, Marina.

I owe you.

Thank you.

SHOULDN'T YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO LEARN

THE TRUTH ABOUT YOUR PAST,

INSTEAD OF SENDING YOUR NIECE?

MARINA.

- You all right, Katyusha?

- Yes.

You look sad.

It's 15 years ago today.

Your parents.

How could Stalin get away

with that for so long?

I want to make sure

it can't happen again.

Katya...

Everybody will be looking at the bride,

Sasha, not at you.

Good morning, comrade.

Where do we get married?

Should we get to know

each other first?

If you like.

Upstairs and right.

Thank you.

Go give him the flower

And tell him, she's coming.

Thank you, my little one.

Uncle Sasha, Papa says she's coming.

I can't do it, Misha.

I don't want to lie to him.

What's happened to you?

They shot your mother and your father

through the head.

They shot them and left you with no one!

I always thought I'd end up

with someone like you.

Someone on our side,

not theirs.

- You chose to do this.

- Oh.

And you can't let it go.

I wish you would just

leave me alone, Misha.

Find some other man to ruin because

I won't ruin him.

You change your mind?

Never.

We are going to be

so happy, Sasha.

Despite everything.

Despite what, Katyusha?

No, no, no.

You can't kiss yet.

You stood me up.

I just want Misha's address.

That's all.

What is going on?

Isn't it a bit early

for a drink?

Is that any of your concern?

I'm glad you like it.

Just leave.

Look at me.

Why didn't you come

to me today?

Mikhail Ardonov?

We're just doing

some research.

Where are you from?

- America.

- Wow!

Land of the free.

So, what are you

researching?

I'm Lauren Grinkova.

I want to ask you

about Katya,

my aunt.

I'm her brother

Yuri's daughter.

I don't remember anything

about those days.

You were running her as a spy.

Remember that?

My uncle doesn't know

what happened to her.

He left her here.

That's what happened.

So you do remember?

So what happened to Sasha?

He made money.

He has Lauren...

Imagine being him,

Mr. Ardonov.

Imagine the love of your life gone,

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Shamim Sarif

Shamim Sarif (born 24 September 1969) is a British novelist and filmmaker of South Asian and South African heritage. more…

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Submitted on August 05, 2018

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