original title:
Educazione siberiana
directed by:
cast:
John Malkovich, Peter Stormare, Eleanor Tomlinson, Vilius Tumalavicius, Arnas Fedaravicius, Olegar Fedoro, Mat Fraser, Airida Gintautaite, Jonas Trukanas, Arvydas Lebeliunas, Daiva Stubraite, Jonas Cepulis
screenplay:
Stefano Rulli, Sandro Petraglia, Gabriele Salvatores, from the novel by Nicolai Lilin
cinematography:
editing:
set design:
costume design:
music:
producer:
production:
Cattleya, Rai Cinema, supported by Ministero della Cultura
distribution:
world sales:
country:
Italy
year:
2012
film run:
100'
format:
colour
release date:
28/02/2013
festivals & awards:
“…We had to divide this place with the other criminal families. Each of us started to control our neighborhood according to our own rules. And that is how our clan, the Siberian clan, came to live here…”
SIBERIAN EDUCATION tells the story of a gang of children growing up in a community of banished criminals, in a forgotten corner of the former Soviet Union. This community rejects the world outside. The only law it obeys… is its own.
Against this backdrop two best friends, Kolima and Gagarin, gradually become fierce enemies as they find themselves on opposite sides of the strict code of honour of the ‘honest criminal’ brotherhood.
A story of a disappearing world and of children learning right from wrong in a criminal gangland, this is a heartbreaking story of two boys who try to overcome who they are and where they are from.
They may be destined for a life of violence. But can they live this life with honour?