The Long Farewell 2015

An eighteen-year-old student, Sasha Ustinov, lives with his divorced mother, Yevgenia, who has worked as an office translator for fifteen years. He answers only briefly when she asks about his first visit to his father in Novosibirsk, and the mood between them feels guarded from the start. They share a quiet moment in a cemetery while searching for their parents’ graves, and, as they walk, Yevgenia recounts stories from her father’s life, weaving memory with the present in a way that never quite bridges the gap between mother and son. After the cemetery visit, they board a train to a family friend’s dacha by the sea, where the journey itself becomes another layer of their complicated relationship.

On arrival, Sasha stays apart as his mother greets the hosts. He is introduced to another guest, Nikolai, and is asked to keep him occupied, a task Yevgenia accepts with a practiced ease. The two of them stroll through a wide garden, sharing a lively conversation that contrasts with Sasha’s distant response to his mother’s stories. In the grounds, he spots Masha, the hosts’ daughter, and comments on how much she has changed. Flashbacks reveal that he once felt more deeply for her, which explains why he has long resisted accompanying his mother to these visits. The realization that Masha does not share his feelings weighs on him, and he explains to her that he won’t be around much longer, even turning down her invitation to call her in town.

During a packed lunch, Yevgenia scolds Sasha in front of the group over something trivial, underscoring the tension that lingers beneath their quiet exchanges. Back in the city, Sasha reconnects with Tatiana, a friend who is seeking new work. A strange encounter unfolds as a man from the local employment office approaches Tatiana; she hides, and Sasha tries to intervene, only for the man to calmly read his palm and reveal that Tatiana isn’t listed as someone the office cares about. Despite this, the man insists he will continue to look after her because he truly cares about her wellbeing.

Tatiana leaves to help Yevgenia find a new job for her friend, and Yevgenia, fresh from a disappointing and humiliating meeting with her own boss, agrees to take Tatiana’s suggestion. It’s at this moment that Tatiana shares that Sasha wants to move in with his father in Siberia—a plan Sasha has kept to himself. The revelation shifts the family’s dynamic into sharper relief, and Yevgenia begins to take steps to control the flow of information about Sasha’s future. She visits the post office to request that mail addressed to Sasha be held for pickup, hoping to prevent any word of his intentions from reaching him, though the mail carrier respectfully refuses, citing regulations.

Back at home, Yevgenia discovers Sasha rummaging for his savings, a tension-filled moment that hints at practical worries behind the emotional strain. He contends with his mother’s steady routine, while she prepares to attend a theater performance, changing clothes and asking who is waiting for her in the taxi downstairs. From an upstairs window, she signals to the driver, Nikolai, to wait a little longer so she can avoid being seen. The car ride becomes another flashpoint: though Nikolai speaks only compliments, their conversation devolves into an argument, and Yevgenia storms back home.

Against the rules, Tonetchka, the mail carrier, delivers a package from Novosibirsk to Yevgenia. Inside are slides and a letter from Sasha’s father that challenges Sasha’s suspicions about intercepted mail. At the same time, Sasha makes a long-distance call from a phone booth to his father; he confirms he has decided to move in with him, insisting he can no longer bear living with his mother. The moment crystallizes a choice that has haunted their relationship.

Returning home, Yevgenia sets up a slide projector and studies the photographs and letters from the package. When Sasha arrives and sees the material, her anger erupts, though he remains calm, promising only to write to her. A company event later gives Yevgenia a chance to shine as she presents awards, and Sasha capitalizes on the moment to share a dance with Tatiana while his mother keeps watch. The scene shifts to a concert, where they head to their seats only to find them already taken. A pantomime unfolds on stage, and Yevgenia insists loudly on keeping their seats. Sasha tries to calm her and lead her out, and, after a tense moment, he succeeds and they walk away together. Watching his mother’s distress, Sasha feels a surge of compassion and resolves to stay by her side, even as the possibility of a future apart lingers on the horizon.