Under the pressure of the increasingly autocratic Russian regime, sixteen-year-old Marusya decides - like many others her age - to end her life before the end of the year. But then she meets the vibrant Kimi, who, like her, bears scars on both wrists and knows all the songs of Joy Division by heart. She falls head over heels in love.
While Marusya finds a new perspective in love and tries to get her life back on track, Kimi battles his demons with an increasing use of drugs. His addiction pushes him to the brink of abyss, with Marusya's camera as the last chance to save his vulnerable soul.
Tragic, but also with humor and intimacy, Syroechklovskaya shows how many of her generation struggle with childhood traumas and a lack of perspective. It is a personal cry for help from a silent generation trapped in the grip of an oppressive government.
"How to Save a Dead Friend" premiered in 2022 at Visions du Réel and received a special mention from the jury. The documentary was also selected for the European Film Awards and IDFA, and has already won twelve awards at international festivals.