Leningrad, 1945. World War II has devastated the city, flattening its buildings, and leaving its citizens in tatters – physically and mentally. Although the siege – one of history’s worst – is finally over, life and death continue their battle in the remaining wreckage. Two young women, Iya and Masha, search for meaning and hope in the struggle to rebuild their lives amongst the ruins. 28-year-old Russian director Kantemir Balagov won Un Certain Regard’s Best Director prize at 2019’s Cannes Film Festival for this richly burnished, occasionally harrowing rendering of the persistent scars of war.