About this event
FilmCinema 7
Total running time: 01:30:00 Followed by audience Q & A.
Feed the Domovoi Directed by Vasilisa Ikonnikova
The story starts with a voice-over : “ When I was a little girl in Russia my grandmother used tosay that to keep the house spirit Domovoi happy, it has to be fed every day.” Two closed eyesopen on a dark background.It's a dark, cold winter evening. There's a blizzard outside. In an old apartment, a young childStaska is sad and bored as a family gathering is about to start. Staska is sitting next to her greatuncle Ura, who had too much to drink and fell asleep before dinner.The grandmother places a bowl of traditional pastries Shangy on the table. Staska tries to reachfor the pastry but the Grandma stops her: “ No, this is not for you!” . She then leaves the room.Staska gets hungry and takes a pastry from the dinner table. When the girl reaches for the nextpastry, her older sister Vaska appears and stops her. “Put it back! You’’ll upset the Domovoi”she says. A fight starts between the two kids. While they are fighting, a mysterious shadow (the House Spirit Domovoi) gets attracted by the smell of the cookies and steals all the pastries.Once the girls realize the pastries are gone, they quickly hide under the table to avoidpunishment. The family members arrive at the table and start eating. The younger sister Staskafinds a crumb from the pastry and decides to follow the crumb trail that leads under the couch.There she meets the shadow full of mysterious blinkingeyes. Atthat moment the older sisterdecides to check on her. When Vaska sees the shadow she goes into shock and lets out a shriek.The spirit grabs Staska and prepares to eat her. Then Staska takes out the stollen cookie out of her pocket and feeds the Domovoi. He eats it and becomes happy and friendly. He puts Staskadown.The monster closes its big mouth and brings a finger to its lips. “Shhhhhh”. It signals theaudience to keep this hiding place a secret. (2026, 00:02:51, Canada)