Self-Return to Crimea

Synopsis

In the late 1980s, Crimean Tatars began returning to Crimea after decades of exile. They fought for basic rights, such as the ability to buy homes and obtain residence permits, through protests and negotiations with local officials. Daily racism and government propaganda complicated their efforts. Activists organized pickets and peaceful marches, culminating in what authorities labeled "squatting." The film features veterans of the Crimean Tatar movement and immigrants, detailing their struggle and the subsequent loss of homes following the Russian occupation in 2014.