Bitter Juniper

Directed by Baras Khalzanov

1943. Buryad Ulas. In a hinterland in far Siberia, many kilometers far from the front battle line there is a small buryad village. Though there is no place in a country unaffected by War. This village is no exception. All men went to the battle-front, only children, women and old men are left. You need to survive somehow, bring up the smallest, and take care of the ill and old, aid army. 15-year old teenagers shoulders are heavily loaded with war-time and rear chores. They also strive to go to the battle-front, want to fight for their motherland side by side with their fathers and brothers, but they realize that when mothers are out, there are nobody, except them, to take care of kids, graze horses, work on mills and do many other things.