Extraordinary stories

57. "School. Survival guide"

They sell drugs to school children, steal kids' clothes from lockers and have drunken parties at night. They are school security guards. Starting from September 2008, school guards employed by private security agencies will be replaced by local police officers belonging to the so-called Extra-departmental Guard, a department devoted to the provision of additional police support on a contract basis. In the light of several terrorist acts taking place in schools, schoolchildren's safety has become one of the most pressing issues. Hooliganism, drugs, terrorist acts… How can we ensure our children’s safety at school?

58. "Parents. Basic instinct"

Why are parental instincts becoming less strong? Why do women treat abortions as something normal? Why don't they want to fight for their children instead of giving up? Why does the number of abandoned children continue to grow? After all, there is always a way out even of the most desperate situations. And those brave women who dare to face difficulties will always be rewarded for their efforts.

59. "Temp mother, how to surviive"

Only ten years ago the word 'nanny' used to be said with caution – grandmas couldn't even imagine how a total stranger could be entrusted with bringing up their precious grandchildren. Modern women, however, do not have that much time to spare on their kids. Many of them resume full-time work as soon as their tots turn one. If they are lucky, they have their mothers to look after their children. If not, a nanny has to be found. Still, even a nanny with the best credentials and a proven track record is not a guarantee that your child will be safe. Irina first became concerned about who was taking care of her baby when her son began to shy away from her whenever she tried to give him a hug. Nanny Valentina was pleasant and charming, and according to her, loved the child as if he were her own. But a hidden video camera caught something that shocked the young mother – the nanny was abusing her baby…

60. "To start with a clean slate, confesstions of nouveau riches' wives"

The film is based on the real stories from the lives of Russian women – former wives of oligarchs, businessmen and celebrities – who ended up living abroad at various times and for various reasons. Some of them had to remember the long-forgotten skills they had once learned and the jobs they had in their youth. In order to survive, as well as to raise their children, they had to take lowest-paid jobs for long periods of time. Their stories are a vivid example of how a beautiful fairytale named 'marrying an oligarch' has its dark side, like the moon.

61. "Life as directed by someone else"

This film is about children abandoned by parents. Their lives and destinies are now in the hands of strangers. They were forced to leave their goals, desires and dreams behind.. They live their lives as directed by someone else. They lost their right to have their own future.

62. "Artificial life. In vitro children"

What’s the difference between “in vitro” children and common children, what circumstances (except for sterility and medical indications) force women to address to surrogate mothers, do they tell such children about the way they were conceived. In Russia the first surrogate program has been implemented in 1995 in ECO center at the Scientific and Research Institute of Obstetrics and Gynecology named after D.O.Otta of the Russian Academy of Medical Sciences in St.-Petersburg…

63. "Bride to order"

It is a documentary about «Caucasian captives of XXI century», about an abduction of brides. Today girls are being stolen not only on the Northern Caucasus. They are being stolen in Ekaterinburg, in Moscow... Earlier it was a punishable act. In the Soviet Criminal Code there was even a Chapter «The Crimes constituting vestiges of local customs». But ten years ago this clause was excluded from the Code. According to statistics, 75 % of abduction cases take place upon the consent of the bride. But remaining 25 % are girls who have been stolen against their will.

64. "Nord-Ost. Kristina + Arseny"

Six years ago the group of terrorists seized the theatrical center at Dubrovka where at that time there was a sensational performance of the musical "Nord-Ost". During three days not only all the Russia, but also all the world with horror was observing the development of events. On October 26 a special hostage release operation was carried out in course thereof 130 people were lost… Christina and Arseny were protagonists of the musical. They were rehearsing together, they dreamed to become real actors; they sat knee by knee in the hall seized by terrorists; today they are sleeping near one another at the cemetery. In the film their parents and their friends will tell about Christina and Arseny.