Froth

Ilya Povolotsky's debut documentary observes a tiny but eclectic community that remains on the shores of the Barents Sea. The setting could be the edge of the world - or even the end of it - with brutalist housing blocks that once housed families who have migrated away, now empty and decaying.

Through the course of film Povolotsky quietly drops in on the lives of some of the remaining residents - a mysterious woman, whose job is not immediately obvious, a father and daughter Alexander and Masha who offer a sort of water taxi with their boat and fisherman Dima, who spends much of his time in less than legal pursuits but whose interactions with his daughter are as sweet as the ice-cream we see him treat her to. We'll also meet Sasha and his team of squabbling divers who are trying to raise a Second World War vessel for scrap and former marine Bardak, who is determined to see his retirement out in the town.

Despite the apparent bleakness of the surroundings, there's plenty of warm emotions here. From the playful discussions between Dima and his daughter as they watch a train go past, which sees her collapse into infectious giggles, to the joyous crossed-language conversation that occurs as a pair of German tourists are given some help.

Povolotsky captures the "edgy" element to life here, whether it's Dima skimming along the fringe of the law - and even running away from it - or the tension that exists between Alexander's expectations from Masha and her own hopes for the future. He also shows a keen eye for a strong image, such as a reflection in a bucket or the striking starkness of those abandoned buildings.

Most importantly, the first-time director achieves that most important of documentarian aims - being apparently invisible to those he is capturing. He slips into Dima's home to capture his encounters with his family, including wrestling his slippery daughter from the shower, and blends into the backdrop as Sasha's team engage in salty banter and ship-raising one-upmanship. There may not be many people left in this community and those who remain might face a tough life but Froth shows they have plenty of substance.