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A Long and Happy Life

Name: A Long and Happy Life
Director: Boris Khlebnikov
Released: 2013
Duration: 77 min

Representation Score

2.9/10

Limited

2013

Director

Boris Khlebnikov

Runtime

77 minutes

Average Rating

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New Showbiz Analysis

Boris Khlebnikov’s film is a work of social realism that prioritizes atmospheric depth over broad demographic representation. It functions as a localized character study, focusing on the existential pressures of a fading way of life in northern Russia. The film successfully challenges traditional male clichés, presenting a protagonist defined by vulnerability and moral struggle rather than traditional strength. It provides a sharp critique of institutional corruption and the decay of social structures. However, the work lacks representation of diverse identities, ethnic groups, or characters with disabilities.

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Category Breakdown

Does A Long and Happy Life have LGBTQ+ representation?

Minimal

The story focuses on a heterosexual relationship between Sascha and Anya. There are no representations of LGBTQ+ identities or same-sex relationships.

How does A Long and Happy Life portray gender?

Fair

Sascha is portrayed as a vulnerable man rather than a traditionally dominant figure. The narrative mainly centers on the male perspective of decision-making and personal growth.

How racially and ethnically diverse is A Long and Happy Life?

Limited

The film shows a localized, homogeneous community on the Kola Peninsula. It reflects specific regional demographics without presenting a multi-ethnic or globally diverse cast.

How does A Long and Happy Life represent religion and culture?

Good

The film critiques post-Soviet administrative corruption and the shift towards capitalist values. It explores the tension between traditional handshake agreements and predatory economic practices.

Does A Long and Happy Life include disability representation?

Minimal

There are no visible or invisible disabilities that play a central role in the character arcs or the plot progression.

Present on Screen

Challenges traditional masculine clichés by emphasizing vulnerability and existential weight.
Provides a critical look at corrupt administrative structures and shifting economic values.
Offers a nuanced, character-driven exploration of individual existence within a changing social landscape.

Limited or Absent

Lacks representation of LGBTQ+ identities or non-traditional gender roles.
Features a highly localized, homogeneous cast with minimal ethnic diversity.
Does not include characters navigating life with visible or invisible disabilities.

Official Synopsis

Sascha lives in a village on the Kola Peninsular in northern Russia and dedicatedly manages what is left of an old collective farm. He gets on well with his farm workers who respect him and also tolerate his more or less clandestine love-affair with Anya, a secretary at the local government office. But then Sascha is suddenly faced with a dilemma: the district’s self-seeking administrators, none of whom could be termed squeamish, offer him a lucrative deal for the farm. In legal terms, Sascha doesn’t have much of a leg to stand on since his lease on the farm was only agreed with a handshake. The pressure mounts, and even more so when his employees convince him to stand firm. Against the backdrop of a landscape exposed to the elements, this unflinching man’s destiny takes its course.

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