The cosmopolitan city of Moscow is a melting pot of the Russian nations and hinge between east and west, north and south of the gigantic country. Nowhere else in Russia is equestrian sport as varied as here: Competitions, shows and parades are held all year round. The cavalryman Dima is there when Putin's mounted guard with horse ballets conquers the audience's favour in the Kremlin. In the Moscow Hippodrome, Russian breeders compete for the best ratings for their offspring, and show jumping riders from all over the country compete in the "Rus" performance centre at the gates of the city. The 22-year-old Oksana dreams of a victory with her stallion "Ryzhiy"...
In Vladimir, 200 kilometres west of Moscow, Alexei Grizenko trains the only troika in Russia to be pulled by three cold-blooded horses. The troika is the russian trilogue par excellence, but today only a few experts are still able to master the trade of troika driving. Alexej is financed by an English businessman who has found a second home in Russia. The survival of the cold blood of Vladimir is thus not yet assured on its own...
Filmmakers Thorolf Lipp and Anastasia Vinokurova have spent a late summer in the heart of Russia and have met performance-oriented competitors and old-school experts who share the love of horses.
D 2016.43 minutes, commissioned by ZDF/ arte
Idea & Book - THOROLF LIPP
Director - THOROLF LIPP & ANASTASIA VINOKUROVA
Dramaturgy - MARTINA KLEINERT
Camera - THOMAS KULIK & THOROLF LIPP
Sound & translations - ARTEM FUNK
Editing & Color Correction - THOMAS KULIK
Graphics - SASCHA WERNER
Mixture - JAN DEJOZÉ
Music - ILJA CORIC
Production management - ANKE MEYER
Producer - MARTINA SPRENGEL
Line Production - EAST MEDIA SERVICE
Editorial assistance - ULLI LEINER (ZDF)
Editorial Office - MARITA HÜBINGER (ZDF)