Cohabitants

Synopsis

On Piirissaar, a small Estonian island in Lake Peipus, the Russian Old Believers have lived for 300 years. They arrived during the Great Northern War, escaping religious reforms and military conscription. As the island erodes, the community faces extinction. Despite this, the unique culture that developed in isolation from the broader Russian world persists. Director Viesturs Kairišs captures the delicate balance between tradition and survival in this 20-minute documentary.