From “Vdalraid” train adventures to vibrant urban poetry, a film festival in Perm spotlights unconventional journeys and artistic expressions.
In an age where curated Instagram feeds often define the notion of travel and artistic expression, a recent gathering at the 25th Flahertiana International Documentary Film Festival in Perm, Russia, offered a refreshing glimpse into the unscripted realities of youth culture. The festival became a crucible for two distinct, yet spiritually linked, phenomena: the daring “Vdalraid” train journeys and the burgeoning movement of urban poets, both driven by an insatiable hunger for authentic experience and connection.
“Vdalraid”: The Nomad`s Odyssey on Rails
Imagine setting off across vast distances, not with meticulously planned itineraries or premium tickets, but with an open spirit and an understanding that the journey itself is the destination – often, a free one. This is the essence of “Vdalraid”, a burgeoning subculture among Russian youth, centered on budget-conscious, often ticketless, travel by electric trains to distant cities.
This intrepid spirit was vividly captured in the short film “Vdalraid”, by VGIK student director and cameraman Artyom Petrov. The documentary introduces us to Vlad Krutov, a 15-year-old tech blogger whose unconventional pilgrimage from Moscow to Murmansk – with stops in vibrant hubs like Kazan, Yekaterinburg, and Izhevsk – forms the film`s narrative backbone. Vlad`s adventures are not merely personal escapades; they are meticulously streamed to a dedicated online following, transforming solitary journeys into shared experiences.
The film doesn`t shy away from the practicalities, and indeed, the inherent risks. Evading controllers, seeking impromptu shelter in hostels or train stations, and navigating unfamiliar urban landscapes are all part of the “Vdalraid” lexicon. As Artyom Petrov subtly implies, this isn`t an endorsement of illicit travel, but rather an earnest attempt to comprehend the profound motivations behind it. In a world where economic constraints often limit grand adventures, these young nomads forge their own universities of life, one train ride at a time.
“He`s not just travelling; he`s enrolling in life`s own university, one destination and one unexpected encounter at a time.”
The Poetic Pulse of the Cities
Beyond the rattling carriages and fleeting landscapes of “Vdalraid,” Perm played host to another extraordinary convergence: a “poetic bus” journey from Kazan, bringing a vibrant collective of young poets to the festival. Their mission? The pre-premiere screening of a 25-minute film titled “The Thorny Path of a Young Poet”.
This documentary, a collaborative effort by director Vlad Petrov, screenwriter Marina Galitskaya, and producer Alina Rezvanova, paints an intimate portrait of Kazan`s new poetic generation. These aren`t ivory-tower academics; they are artists who “conceptually pollute” their native Volga and Kama rivers by sending messages in bottles containing their verses, or who embark on “poetic walks” through their city, unveiling hidden narratives that no guidebook could ever capture. Their passion for poetry burns bright, often alongside day jobs in factories, advertising, or real estate – a poignant reminder that art, for many, remains a labor of love rather than a primary source of income.
The film also served as a heartfelt dedication to Sergei Litovets, a talented director and operator who co-founded Rezvanova`s studio two decades prior. The mention of Litovets` earlier film, “Dialogues in an Electric Train,” which also premiered at Flahertiana years ago, subtly underscores a generational continuum of exploring life on the rails and its profound human connections.
This gathering sparked an immediate connection between the Kazan and local Perm poets, leading to discussions about potential collaborations and even, rather charmingly, suggestions for exploring Perm`s ancient Yegoshikhinskoe Cemetery – a unique form of local immersion. The debates were telling: to publish or to “hang out”? Many of these poets grapple with the challenge of traditional publishing, preferring the raw energy of poetic gatherings, kitchen readings, and collaborative zines, like “Return to the Forest,” where they explore their relationship with nature.
Flahertiana: A Mirror to Modern Youth
The Flahertiana Film Festival, under the leadership of documentarian Pavel Pechenkin, stands as a crucial platform for such narratives. It`s a place where the informal becomes formal, where nascent cultural movements are recognized, documented, and debated. The festival doesn`t just showcase films; it fosters dialogue, bridging geographical and conceptual divides between young creators.
Both “Vdalraid” and the Kazan poetry movement, as presented in Perm, are more than mere trends. They are tangible manifestations of a generation`s quest for authenticity, self-discovery, and community. Whether it`s the solitary adventure across vast Russian landscapes or the communal exploration of urban verse, these young individuals are charting their own paths, challenging established norms, and, in doing so, are quietly but profoundly redefining what it means to travel and create in the modern world.
These stories from Perm remind us that culture isn`t always found in grand institutions or on pristine stages. Sometimes, it`s discovered in the unexpected rattle of a regional train, in a handwritten verse passed among friends, or in the shared silence of a forest trip. And sometimes, it takes a keen documentary filmmaker to make us truly see it.
