Competition Programme  

The film tells stories of people who back in the Soviet times came to Estonia to work in the Dvigatel factory. These workers were given an allotment for growing vegetables near the factory. They soon started to plant their crops, build small summer houses and trade allotments with each other. The story of their allotment gardens is an allegory of the fall of the Soviet Union, as seen through their eyes.The owners of the allotments all have different ethnic origins, and today hold passports of different former Soviet states.The lives of the owners of the illegal allotments are inextricably linked to the land that they cultivate. Earlier this year, the Estonian government signed a contract with the Tallinn airport to clean up areas around the airport in order to build new runways. The allotments are located right next to the borders of the airport. The process is scheduled to start this fall. The Estonian press has told the gardeners that this year’s crop is the last one they will ever raise. In only a few days, the last pages of the Soviet history will be turned. Progress is knocking on the door of history.

Festivals

East Doc Platform by the Institute of Documentary Film, Czech Republic (2013)

Aliona Surzhikova

Born in 1982. In 2000-2004 she studied TV directing at Tallinn University. In 2006-2008 continued studies at the St. Petersburg State University of Cinema and Television, and now makes non-fiction films.

Filmography

Generation 0 (2008)
Semyon Shkolnikov’s War and Peace (2008)
Once Upon a Time in Russia (2006)
Search of the Path (2004)