Sleepers' Beat

For weeks they are away from home leading a subservient life, from early morning until late in the evening. Yet living and working on the Trans-Siberian Railway is something the train staff wouldn’t and couldn’t live without. They feel more at home on the train now than in their own homes. is a hymn to the train, which they regard as a living being, and to the cars, which all seem to have their own spirit – one you love right away, the other you learn to love after some time. The camera captures their passion for the train with visual lyricism: it caresses the curtains, shows the snowy Russian landscapes and the rails gleaming in the sunlight. The rattle and rocking of the train create a meditative rhythm, together with soft piano music that provides a daydreamy, nostalgic feel. Director Anastasia Kirillova not only makes documentary and fiction shorts, but also video installations and short videos. This poetic short follows Kirillova's earlier work, whose recurring themes include life in exile or as an immigrant, and feeling at home versus being on the road.