Demitri Zujew’s ‘Crease’, produced by Anastasiia Artamonova, slices into the glossy surface of institutional pride to expose the bruises beneath. Set in a seemingly model Russian school, the short film dissects the theatre of image, power, and silence within the education system – where awards are displayed louder than wounds.
The plot unfolds around Nina, the principal, who’s being filmed for a local TV news segment after winning “Principal of the Year”. Khelga Filippova plays her with the perfect cocktail of grace and performative sincerity. But Zujew’s real story lies behind her smile – in the corridors and corners where students like Petya (Arseny Inyutin) endure bullying in silence. As the camera crew captures congratulatory interviews, we witness contrasting snapshots of adolescent torment and isolation. The juxtaposition is sharp, purposeful, and devastating.
Platon Kuzmich delivers a quietly intense performance as Maxim, a classmate whose gaze lingers with implication. But it’s Inyutin who shatters expectations – his portrayal of Petya is gut-wrenching in its restraint, raw in its truth.
Shot flawlessly by Natalia Butova, Crease boasts skilled cinematography – crisp, clean, with surgical focus. The camera never screams, but it speaks volumes. Cuts are deliberate, sound is immaculate, and the atosphere is coldly composed, reflecting the emotional distance between authority and the students. This is high-end production with a conscience.
What begins as a celebration ends in devastation. Zujew’s final reveal is as subtle as it is startling, a sharp twist that lands like truth. ‘Crease’ is not only a film about school bullying – it’s a mirror held up to Russian institutions that prize image over integrity. Highly recommended.
