Veniamin found God. The Russian teen fanatically reads the Bible over and over, spouting quotes which he takes way too literally. His zealotry begins at swim lessons, where Veniamin refuses to undress for religious reasons. Then he starts to argue the case for Creationism in school. His mother suspects drugs or insecurity, but her son is on a different mission entirely.
Kirill Serebrennikov’s intelligent study of religious fanaticism is based on the German play Martyr by Marius Mayenburg.
Filmography: Betrayal (2012), Yuri’s Day (2008), Playing the Victim (2006), Bed Stories (2004), Ragin (2004).