Intro

A mother's grief, a letter of love, and inexhaustible faith

Julia Mochalova, the mother of three little girls, visits an office to collect the death certificate of the son she lost at childbirth. A year has passed since that day, yet the wounds remain open. The document becomes a way of claiming the right to an honourable release, the first step on a path towards overcoming guilt.

In a self-help group, Julia offers a sincere and candid testimony that reveals a deep family trauma, shedding light on the causes of her painful loss. The ghost of a male figure continues to cast a shadow over her life, unresolved and ever-present.

Perhaps a letter written by her hand can reach the soul of her son through the flames of a homemade bonfire. A candle-lit letter, a dead butterfly placed at the centre of an intimate cremation ceremony, and a pregnancy test showing a positive result: these are the poignant images that form the fabric of Intro, directed by Julia Panasenko. The film, first released in Russia in 2016, reminds us of the impossibility of avoiding the difficulties of our lives, while affirming that faith and renewal can coexist with grief.