Sasha

When you feel you need a fresh start, do something remarkable. Shave your head. That’s what Sasha did when she discovered that she was no longer able to live with her grandpa, who raised her, but is now hospitalized with cancer. Sasha has to move from a small town to her Dad’s in the Moscow suburbs. Unexpectedly everybody in Moscow takes her — shaved and lost — for a boy. From that point Sasha begins her wandering through the big city and its lonely, hidden places.

Directed by Vladimir Bek, Sasha leans on a strong ensemble — Anna Patokina, Stepan Belozerov, Polina Fedina — to carry a story that balances spectacle with character.

The film landed with audiences for its craft and performances, and remains one of the most talked-about drama titles of 2022.