Ostern

Ostern came from a desire to explore the subjects of loss, relentlessness and the

delusional pursuit of lost cause.

The piece chronicles the journey of Piotr; whose actions and lack of actions uproot
him and his loved ones from their lives in Moscow City and exiles them to a Siberian

penal colony.

Set on the backdrop of the latter days of Imperial Russia the character of Piotr suffers
one ordeal after another. He stands as a testament to how far the human spirit can
drive someone to finish a journey; one that is known by all but themselves to be an

impossible task.

Taking inspiration from David Lean's Doctor Zhivago and classical Russian Literature
this story aims to strike a balance between a sweeping epic and a thoughtful character

study.

Embarking on an odyssey to be reunited with his family after a daring prison escape,
Piotr becomes entangled with Maria, a widow who is struggling to run her late
husband's wheat farm as well as keep at bay the desires of a member of a local crime

family.

After saving Maria from the advances of her connected attacker the two become

unlikely companions.

The characters: burying their heads in the sand about their situation, form a bond as
they try to sell Maria's farm. This is until the hopelessness of their situation becomes

too hard to suppress.

Ultimately the characters desires for closure are defeated by their harsh reality; being
on the run from the law, and the unlawful, on the cold plains of Siberia.
The two characters, unsuccessful in their pursuits, set off on the next step of their
journey. They step into the unknown of the future together.

Their wounds are closed. Not healed, but cauterised by the violent finale.