Durakovo: Village of Fools

An eye-opening documentary shot on the grounds of Durakovo, a “rehabilitation” center outside Moscow. In this gated compound, autocratic leader Mikhail Fyodorovich Morosov lords over the residents, ostensibly helping them gain skills for modern-day society. In his words, he “shapes a new man for a new Russia.” Some initiates have submitted themselves to his indoctrination techniques, while others have been brought to the center by concerned family members. In this microcosm, we see a frightening locus for oppressive behavior and Russian nationalism. Kirtadze’s portrait of life at Durakovo is a metaphor for where Russian leadership is heading today.