Self-Portrait in Handcuffs

An inspiring portrait of Belarusian artist Ales Pushkin, who uses his performance art to wage a mini-resistance against the regime of President Alexander Lukashenko. Ever since the dictatorial president came to power, countless galleries have been shut down or made subject to censorship. As one of the last remaining artists in his country, Pushkin has been bumping heads with the authorities for the past decade. He gets sent away or arrested time and again, but he keeps flying the forbidden flag of the Belarusian People's Republic nonetheless. With his gangly body, gold teeth and extravagant clothes, Pushkin is a striking personality. In addition to protesting and making autonomous art, he was formally trained in the restoration of antique Eastern Orthodox icons, and he earns a living repairing frescos in rural churches. While most of his colleagues chose for a career in New York or Berlin, Pushkin remained with his family in the village of Bobr, espousing the idea that staying behind offers the greatest form of freedom. Disturbing footage shows police officers using brute force to take possession of paintings and cart Pushkin off. Even his fellow villagers have misgivings about his actions when he is painting out on the street, as they fear he may be spying for the United States. Pushkin adroitly perseveres in his hopeless fight, not always unscathed but steadfast all the same.