Konferentsiya (2020) - full transcript
Many years after a deadly terrorist siege in a Moscow theatre, survivor Natasha returns to the crime scene to hold a memorial evening, finally able to confront her survivor's guilt and her estranged daughter and husband.
26th.
The 26th is already booked.
Please choose another day.
We cannot have another day.
I totally understand you.
I’m human too.
I understand what
an important mourning event this is.
And grief that everyone should remember.
We just need half a day.
In the evening.
You should understand my position -
I manage a commercial organization.
The theatre hall is booked
for several months ahead.
We will pay for that.
We have money.
Mother has been blessed
for conducting
this memorial event.
Ok, very good.
I’ll give you
the best price possible but...
God bless you!
We need to sign
a standard rental agreement.
Yes, of course.
Do what you have to do.
Who is going to sign it?
I will.
Do you have a passport with you?
Here’s a paragraph "rent for":
"concert",
"conference", "theatre play".
Can I put a "mourning event"?
A memorial evening.
No, you have to put it down
as a conference.
Hey.
Hi, Galya.
How are you?
- All well, you?
- Fine.
Are you coming on the 26th?
What’s on the 26th?
Memorial evening,
your mum is organising that.
-Not sure.
-Call me then.
Larissa! Hi.
What about that evening?
It’s on the 26th. See you there.
October 23 -
... 26th...
2002.
It’s impossible for us
to forget that date,
to erase it from our memory.
Hi.
The whole world
Hi, Galya.
was watching
the events that unfolded here.
In Moscow
in the Dubrovka Theatre Centre
where terrorists
took hostages from among the artists
and spectators of the musical
What is it that you are organising?
Memorial evening.
You'll come here every year
to organise it?
Galya.
Why you are doing that?
Father Andrei blessed me.
Go back to your Father Andrei
and organise it there. Got it?
Galya, what…
Don’t touch me. Didn’t you
understand what I said?
Why you are like that?
Like what?..
Like what?
Galya, come with dad
on 26th at 7 pm.
I will be waiting for you.
- With dad?
- Yes.
Do you want me to bring here
my paralyzed father?
My dad who pisses and shits himself?
That’s what you want?
What do you mean, paralyzed?
They were away.
He laid
for the whole day
in the hallway while they were away.
They couldn't reach him on the phone
so they came back.
They placed him
immediately in intensive care.
They said it was a massive stroke.
They knew it was a stroke
already while in the ambulance.
Galya…
She asked not to tell you anything.
Let's remember our kids.
For my Vovka.
-You again?
-Yes.
Hi, Galya.
Galya.
I just
wanted to visit you,
I brought a cake.
Let’s
just talk.
Let’s just have a tea and talk.
Just talk.
I don’t have time to talk.
I need to leave for a bit.
Have some tea with Yegor.
Ok.
I’ve changed the father already.
Don’t disturb him.
Ok.
Will you drink tea?
No?
I need to steer it first.
That’s how I always drink it.
Ok, steer it then.
I’ll have it with the cake,
without sugar.
That’s it. And now…
Will you have some cake?
Are you making a potion?
Yes, I’ll have tea.
I’m going to have
some tea with cake.
Ok, steer it then.
Will you try it?
No, let’s play.
Try a piece.
- No!
- You don’t like it?
Me and your mom love this cake.
- Ok.
- Wait.
Shall we feed the dog?
Let me go to the toilet first.
Toilet?
When I come back,
- steer my potion.
- Ok.
Do you need the light on?
- Yeah!
- Ok.
Don’t tell anyone where I’m.
I won’t.
I’ll be waiting for you.
Just don’t close the door.
I want to pee.
I’ll be waiting.
And steer it…
Just don’t close the door.
I’m waiting for you.
Come here.
My willy is in the shape
of letter "F".
Did you steer it?
Yes. You should steer it too.
Did you put some sugar?
I’ll have one more piece.
One more and let’s play.
Very tasty.
Let’s play now!
Wait, you hear that?
And now…
oh, grandpa.
Wait for me here, ok?
I’ll go see grandpa
and come back, ok?
Is it ok?
Ok.
I'll be quick!
Hi.
Hi, Oleg.
Hello.
Hello.
Galya said
I shouldn’t enter your room.
Do you need anything?
Are you comfortable?
I’ll fix your pillows.
Is everything ok?
Calm down, clam down.
Don’t be shy.
I’ve seen
already everything down there.
Oh, I got it.
I am going to change it now.
I need to find diapers.
I’ll come back.
Come on, Yegor.
I will go play with a cat.
Nice kitty.
Go play in the living room, ok?
Just play here.
Stay here, ok?
I’m helping grandpa.
I’ll come back to you soon.
Here are...
Here are the diapers.
Alright.
Now we are going to change you.
We’ll manage, won’t we?
Of course, we will.
Here.
That's it.
We will carefully put it here.
Alright.
Put your hand here.
We will put it there.
Alright, just couple seconds.
Ok, now we're going to...
Let me
prepare a fresh sheet
and I will need
to turn you.
Help me here.
Go on your side.
One, two, three!
Very good!
Very good, Oleg.
Alright.
That's it.
That's really good.
Now turn back.
That's it! Very good.
That's it!
I’ll fix it now.
A star fell down from the sky,
right in sweetie's pants.
Do you remember what's next?
Do you remember...
what's next?
Let it all blow up there,
as far as there is no war.
Why should we remember such nonsense?
Show me your ticket, please.
I'm a hostage.
Wait a second. Your day is tomorrow.
Not today.
What do you mean?
I was told by the management that
tomorrow is the day for hostages.
There will be a guest list.
Can't I come in for just five minutes?
You have to understand I can’t let
you in
without a guest list.
That’s what I was told.
If you have any questions,
go see the management they'll let you in.
It’s fine.
I have nothing to do with that,
it’s up to the management.
I would let you in.
But with a guest list.
There is no guest list
so what can I do.
With a child?
No, one adult.
500 rubles.
Can I choose a seat?
Sure, let’s see what’s available.
I need row 8, seat 26.
Row 8, seat 26.
It's free. 500 rubles.
Good afternoon.
Row 8, seat 26, right side.
Get out of here!
I told you to get out of here!
Go, leave. We are talking with dad…
Leave? I asked you not to enter his room.
- It’s ok, Dad and I are ok…
- Don’t touch me!
Why did you enter?
Why did you enter?
-He called me.
-Dad, called you?
-I changed his diaper.
-You changed him?
Sorry for that, dad.
Get out of here. Now. Out!
Before I break your jaw. Get out!
I’m counting till three.
Your dad and I were just talking.
One!
- Why are you so harsh?
- Two!
Sorry, dad!
Why you are like that?
What have I done?
Two and a quarter!
What have I done?
What have you done?
Go and tell others at the memorial
evening what you’ve done.
Go and tell them what you’ve done!
What have you done...
Almost three!
Galya.
What are you waiting for?
I’ll fucking throw you out of here now!
-Good bye.
-Bye forever!
Bye forever!
Hello.
Can I talk to Valeriy Gennadievich?
I am Natalya Samokhina, a hostage.
About the memorial evening tomorrow.
We would like to invite him.
At eight o'clock,
after the evening service,
we wanted to gather in the theatre.
Tell him, please.
Thank you.
Do you eat chops?
Meat ones?
No, fish ones.
Yes, I eat it.
I’ll give you a couple?
No, just one.
So far, there aren’t many people
who come tomorrow.
How many people came last year?
Even less.
Even less?
On the 23rd, no one came,
it was very cold
and on the 26th a few people came.
When I was there for
the 15th anniversary
I’ve seen a lot of people.
For the 15th anniversary even TV came.
Someone even held a speech.
Our people
forget everything so quickly.
Only yesterday
a horrific event took place
and today no one remembers that.
Go on, eat.
Lord have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord
for peace from above
and for the salvation of our souls.
Lord have mercy.
For the remission of sins
in the blessed memory of the departed
let us pray to the Lord
let us pray to the Lord.
Of the ever-memorable
servants of God...
Brothers and Sisters
today is a memorial day of
the Iveron icon of the Mother of God.
This is a special for us
united by the memory of the tragic events
that took place here 17 years ago.
Memory of the victims and hostages
of a terrible terrorist act.
An act that was designated
to install fear in people
And people who do these things
think they serve God.
Lord tells us
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the
body but who cannot kill the soul.
Fear him who can plunge body and soul
into The Fire Gehenna".
Brothers and sisters.
Fear is only a feeling
it has no content.
We were not afraid then,
and we will not be afraid now.
Today mother is here.
Mother Natalia from the Voskresensky
Goritsky monastery.
Natalia was with us.
The mother survived the tragedy,
and lost her son.
Today she will hold a memorial event
in the theatre hall
to which she asks us all to come.
Brothers and sisters
let’s remember those difficult days,
so that the memory of loved ones
never leaves us.
Amen.
So good that you came here. Thank you.
17 years ago we survived
such events
that we cannot forget.
But...
as time passes
by everything is being erased.
And a lot is being forgotten.
Svetlana and I...
to make it easier
to restore the situation
we bought
inflatable mannequins.
There are three colours.
White ones are for...
As we have decided
they are victims
who didn’t survive the attack.
Black - for terrorists
who were in the hall
maybe some of them were near you.
Blue - for those
who
couldn’t come today.
For some reasons
anyway, they were
at first, total strangers.
But they were
your neighbours in the rows
and you know something
about them and can tell it now.
So that we could also remember them.
Some have
already passed away
over the last 17 years.
When you want to say something...
Take the mic.
When you want to say something
raise your hand
and I’ll come to you with a mic.
Now, Mother Natalia and I
will give the mannequins
that you need to inflate.
Just to remind you -
white is
for the victims
black - for terrorists
blue - for those, who couldn’t come
today
for some reason.
-I need a black one.
-One second.
-I need a blue one.
-Blue one as well.
-Here is a blue one.
-I need two - blue and white.
Blue one for me.
Here are two of blue.
Blue one as well.
I can't even open it!
Let me do that.
-Which one for you?
-Blue and white.
-Thank you.
-You're welcome.
I need blue,
for those who didn’t come.
Two?
How do I do that?
This is valve there.
Just hold it.
How should I do that?
Just hold it. That's it.
My name is Ekaterina.
I came on the 23rd
to watch the musical
together with my husband,
ex-husband now, and niece.
We were seating close to the stage.
The second part of the musical
it started
at nine o'clock.
Nine o’clock sharp.
Five minutes later, a man
in a camouflage,
came out to the stage
wearing a black mask,
with a machine gun over his shoulder.
Without a word, he fired some shots
at the ceiling above the stage.
A few light bulbs shattered,
shards of glass fell down
but the dancers continued to dance
they haven’t stopped yet
and musicians continued to play.
More terrorists appeared
in the aisle to the right.
They also fired some shots
and that’s when the music stopped.
Dancers stopped.
The gunman on the stage
grabbed the closest artist
dragged him to the edge of the stage
and pushed him into the aisle.
Other artists left the stage
under
the pointed guns of the terrorists.
The audience took
the first shots laughing
as if it was a bad joke
the shots were loud
and everyone was wondering
what would happen next.
Gradually, more terrorists started
to appear,
there were girls in black
with their faces covered with burqas.
They didn't seem
to wear explosive belts -
they put it on later.
Then they demanded
that everyone put their hands behind
their heads and everyone laughed.
The idea that this is not a joke
occurred as soon as music stopped.
I felt my heart beat
twice as fast.
But after a moment I calmed down
and told myself -
"It can't be happening. It's a joke!
Very stupid, but just
a joke!"
When they demanded again
"Hands behind your head!"
someone loudly shouted -
"behind whose head?"
But then the terrorist
that was walking
down the aisle.
And then he hit that young guy,
first with foot and then with gun.
He hit the guy who either said something
to him, or tried to stand up.
The sight of blood
running from the guy’s temple
convinced me that it wasn’t
just a joke.
And then someone
from the hostages said
you need to put your hands on your head.
And I said why?
And they said
it’s a terrorist attack,
didn’t you understand?
And I said - no, I didn’t.
I said - ok
and I put my hands on my head.
But I didn’t understand anything.
I didn’t think anything.
After it all ended
I was surprised by the reaction of people
who were asking me
if I was scared.
I didn’t know what to tell them.
I said - I think,
from your point of view
it looks different
because I wasn’t scared.
It was something...
Not fear. It was something
absolutely different.
There were several layers of feelings.
When you enter,
and see that in one part of the hall
some guys and girls are smiling,
chatting. There were a lot of us
who were rehearsing upstairs.
And I was looking at them
in the hall and saw that some of them
started talking and laughing
they were passing notes to each other.
Asking "did you hear that?",
making jokes.
And I thought - look at that guy,
he got around already.
He’s already met a girl
and they have their
own thing going on.
Other guys
were just sitting like that.
Then someone told me that my mum
is here as well, on the third row.
"Look. She's on third row."
I looked down and I saw
my mum looking on the balcony,
to check if I’m there.
And I waved at her - "hi".
I was surprised to see her.
I don’t know
why I started talking about it now.
I really don’t know.
What were the terrorists’ demands?
To withdraw the federal troops
from Chechnya.
I remember one in camouflage,
he was some kind of press secretary.
Others called him Aslanbek or Aslan.
He was walking through the rows,
communicating with the hostages.
He told us to take our phones
and call our families
friends and television.
So they would arrive here,
to the theatre.
I hid the phone.
Then I pulled it out
and called my friend.
I said that I was held hostage.
Asked her to call my daughter later.
Then I
called my daughter myself.
I didn’t know how to tell her that...
that her father and I,
her sister and her nephew
- all held hostages.
That was so weird.
I tried to hide
what happened for a while
but the daughter understood at once
that there was something bad going on.
Then they made everybody
change their seats.
Can I continue?
I remember that women were told to sit
on the right side and men on the left.
They allowed us to stay with children.
They allowed us to stay together.
My son stayed with me.
They allowed me to.
And my husband
managed to take the seat
right by the aisle.
So we ended up sitting not
that far from each other
and we could
look at each other.
And even talk occasionally.
You know
one of the terrorists
that was on stage...
I’ll come over to you now.
One of the terrorists,
that was on a stage
he had spoken loudly about
a withdrawal of troops from Chechnya.
Everyone listened to him,
the hall was quiet.
And then he...
he said that as long as
there is no assault
we were not in danger,
but if the assault begins
they would blow up the whole theatre.
And for every terrorist killed,
they would kill ten hostages.
Someone from the audience shouted that
the withdrawal of troops
takes a long time
to which one of the shahids
who were sitting next to me replied
that they were not in a hurry
and were ready to stay for
as long as necessary.
Then Aslan came out on stage
carrying a radio.
He screamed:
"Listen to your radio lying!".
I didn’t hear
what they said on the air
but I assume they didn’t like it.
Is there anyone today,
who was sitting on the balcony?
My daughter was moved to the balcony.
When everyone was changing their seats
we were in the toilet
and when we returned
the gunman, who accompanied a few girls
sent us all to the balcony.
Later,
the terrorists spend a long time
looking for the keys
to the side doors of the balcony.
They just lost them.
Then they tried
to barricade it with chairs
and for this purpose
began to break off one row.
Aslan asked
if anyone wanted to help them.
One guy volunteered
to break off the chairs, but Aslan told
that it isn't necessary anymore.
One shahid girl sat next to the door
she had already
put on the belt with explosives
She was
addressed as
Ir or Ira, but I wasn't sure
if that was her real name
more like a nickname.
Unlike other suicide bombers,
she opened her face straight away
so we called her "Gulchatai".
She looked very young,
an ordinary Caucasian girl
who you can usually see
on the street or at the market.
She was always frowning,
but it was kind of unnatural.
She looked very, very nervous.
Let’s talk about Romanova now.
Maybe someone wants to talk about her?
Let me talk about her.
Ok.
-Take the mic.
-Thank you.
My name is Victoria.
Olga Romanova came in once
they've already declared on TV
about the siege.
She somehow
made it through the entire cordon,
walked into the hall
in the concert hall.
And down the aisle to the stage.
She came up to one of the terrorists,
they pointed guns at her.
She loudly demanded that
they would immediately
release all the hostages.
They told her to raise her hands
she didn't.
She told them to
let at least the women
and the children out.
Then gunman came close to her.
Like extremely close.
And told the others she was drunk.
He gestured her
to walk away.
He demanded
to take her out.
They took her right here.
Through the side door.
All of us who
were sitting here
we saw how
one of them pushed her
in the back
with the back of the gun.
She was saying something, I think
to keep their
hands off.
They hit her one more time and she...
she just fell on the floor.
Everyone who sat in our row saw
that terrorist started shooting at her
unloading the whole
machine gun magazine
at her.
In the hall, everyone froze.
Complete silence.
As we
realised that
the first blood was shed.
We took it from the buffet.
Come here, take something to eat.
You are probably hungry.
-Come here.
-Anyone?
Sparkling water?
-Should I give it to you?
-Thank you.
Surprisingly, no one was hungry
for such a long time.
Probably because of stress.
Then when
we got hungry the terrorists
took out from buffet
what they called "trophies". It
was buffet food
in the boxes.
They asked the guys from the hostages
to help them bring the boxes
to the stage.
The shahid girl,
who was sitting behind us...
yes, she was sitting right here
told the guys from the group of actors
to stand up and help.
The guys were carrying boxes
to the stage.
There were two-litre packs of juice
sparkling water, chocolate,
chewing gum, candy
the usual buffet food.
Strange that
they also brought melted ice cream.
The militants loved to
throw food
from the stage into the hall.
And also
after all of this
Then they put two chairs on the stage
back to back
and tied some packages
with explosive to it.
There was that screeching sound.
That sound stayed with you.
They were doing it
in different places of the stage.
Then they put a canister on top of it.
There was a box with the wires
under the chairs
and they started connected the wires.
Another gunman was hanging a flag
on the stage
it was some Arabic script
on a black background.
I afterwards saw the same flag
hanging in the mezzanine.
So...
There was conflict between
the terrorists and our electricians
because our...
The terrorists must have broken
sound and light equipment.
All the lights
that were blinking
went off.
Before that, for two hours, light rays
continued to fall on the stage
Tell us about the suicide bomber girl,
who was sitting near you.
I remember only
that her face was always covered.
I never saw her eyes.
I don't know her name
but she was very calm.
She was one of the few
who talked to some of the hostages.
Apparently she was still a child.
Something like 15 or 16 years old.
What did she say?
She didn’t talk to us.
I’ve just seen her talking to others.
Katerina wants to add something.
I remember her telling that her father
and brother were killed in the war.
She was saying that there was a war
and we go to theatres here.
And also something
around the time
they started handing out food
they hung something from the balcony
like a gas cylinder.
Everyone started saying
that it was a land mine.
Same one was installed
not far behind me in the stalls.
Right behind guys.
Another suicide bomber was sited there
and the terrorists spend a long time
connecting wires to that cylinder.
You wanted to add something?
I remember that when
they were installing a land mine
Aslan was going through the aisle
and asked men whether anybody
had any knowledge of mines.
He asked men.
He asked those who did to stand up.
But no one did
so he laughed and told them:
"You are no men!".
We then thought that
he needed minesweepers
to convince everyone
that the bombs were real.
I’m sorry but are you going to
stay up long tonight?
We agreed with the management
that we will have the whole evening.
I understand, but understand me.
It's midnight already.
I have to turn the lights off.
But we...
Wait a little. We are not done yet.
-How much longer?
-We should...
Some more time.
I understand.
But I need to turn the lights off.
- Give us some more time.
- We agreed with the management.
We will try to wrap up fast.
Just put it back.
Some water for you?
Thank you. Just put it back, please.
I will have to kick you out soon.
You don’t have to kick us out.
I have to lock everything.
Galya!
She came.
I was struck by one of
the terrorists looks.
He was young,
he looked
like 18 years old.
He finished
just a few classes of school
before leaving for the war.
He loved picking up cell phones
that were piled high in the aisle
and studying them.
He kept on asking about their brands.
He just kept on approaching
the hostages.
He played games
on those phones.
The phones rang often
on the first day
they were ringing nonstop
and then he answered he liked
to
talk to the hostages’ families
in an arrogant tone.
He distributed cell phones
to some other terrorists
so they called each other.
Can you tell us about the toilet?
Galya, don’t interrupt him, please.
He was taking small groups of people
to the toilets, where he passed them
to other terrorists.
To go to the toilet you had to stand
in the queue
by the wall in the side aisle.
And you had to wait.
They were taking us to the toilet.
First they took men
to the men's toilet, and then
they arranged the toilet right
in the room next to the hall.
There was some kind of an office.
They even moved tables,
they made toilets right there.
They even sprinkled bleach in room,
so there was no strong smell.
Tell us more about the toilet.
Please continue.
Women were taken
to the ladies room by the balcony.
That day two women
escaped from the toilet.
And the terrorists said -
that’s it
from now on you will go to the toilet
in the orchestra pit.
They also said that if anyone escapes
they will kill ten hostages
for each one who escaped.
However, when those two women escaped
they haven’t killed anyone.
Thank you.
It became so quiet at some point
that we dozed off.
We
calmed down.
And for the first time we dozed off.
Then we woke up
because everyone was screaming
and then I was told that some man
hit the shahid girl in the head
with the bottle
and then ran in the aisle.
The shahid girl started shooting at him.
But she missed him and instead
shot a young woman
who was sitting next to the aisle.
She was wounded in her stomach.
Badly.
And she just fell
and everybody saw that...
Please, continue.
Everyone saw how another terrorist
fired a machine gun
and shot that man.
And
that girl, she was my niece.
And...
And I...
I couldn’t help her at all.
You are leaving, Katerina? Wait!
Just wait a little bit.
Good bye!
And then terrorists...
I’ll come to you.
And then the terrorists told everyone
to return the glass bottles
and they put them back
in the boxes.
I was backstage when...
the attack happened
and then I hid in the dressing room.
I sat there for quite a while.
I was lucky.
There is one moment that
still stays rather mystical for me.
Only I know about that.
It’s only my psyche, my memory.
No one has ever talked
about that particular moment.
And when we were discussing it
no one has ever talked
about that particular moment.
I was sitting under the table
in the dressing room.
I was sitting there with my parents.
At some point
I started
realising that something bad
something unexplainable is happening.
But I wasn’t afraid.
I was just observing.
I was in a state of "here and now".
When they say "to be here and now",
it’s exactly that moment
when you are not reflecting
on anything
you just exist in "that moment",
under the table.
Because nothing else
exists in that moment.
While sitting under the table
I was thinking that maybe a batman
or whichever superhero will come now
and it will be over.
And in that very moment
I’ve heard a voice
of a Russian man, I’m not sure
whether he was real or not
Speaking about memory
that somehow stayed in my memory.
I’ve heard that voice.
He shouted: "raise your hands up".
Maybe it was a Russian soldier
or a kamikaze hostage from the hall.
A gun was fired then and we’ve heard...
Actually, not we,
I'm not sure about the others -
I’ve heard a sound of a body falling
to the floor.
And at that very moment it hit me.
Something happened at this moment.
It became obvious to me
that a superhero won’t...
That he won’t come to save us.
Because the man
whose voice I’ve heard is dead.
That’s it.
That’s it.
Let’s wrap up here.
Why you are looking at me like that?
Am I not clear?
Who is in charge here?
You?
Mother signed all the papers.
Have some decency.
Take your people and leave.
We are almost done.
Without "almost".
Without "almost".
It’s time for you to leave.
Collect your stuff from the cloakroom
and leave.
What’s the point of sitting here?
Let’s stay for a bit
and go till the end.
Don’t leave. We will go till the end.
Natasha, I’m not sure. Go till what end?
I think you are totally
detached from the reality.
Why sit here, digging into details?
The underground is closing soon.
I’m done here.
Guys.
Good bye.
We need to talk it through
at least once.
At least once to go through till the end.
We can’t just leave.
I understand it’s not easy
it’s painful.
I understand that.
But we need to find
strength in us to do that.
We should do this work.
Otherwise, we will keep dragging
all our mistakes along us.
And because of that
it can happen again.
And people will suffer again.
Jesus, nothing has changed.
Natasha, what are you doing there?
Sveta, come help me here.
We have to block it.
So that they won’t disturb us.
We have to close doors.
That's it!
Let’s do it for our loved ones.
We did love them, didn’t we?
Why "did"?
We still love them.
We will do it for them.
We will need large wooden planks.
You're right.
We will find something.
We are sitting here, saying nothing.
Here we go.
Every time a disaster happens to us
we just sit and say nothing.
That’s why they follow us.
One disaster after another.
That’s because
we say nothing.
Because we are too scared
to say something.
Like we are dead.
Pinned down by our fears.
Why are you sitting?
Come over.
I won’t let you out anyway.
Stop being scared.
Everyone, come here, help us.
It’s our life and we will live it
minute by minute today.
Why they keep interrupting us?
How we can help?
Take care of that door.
You need to block it.
Just block these two doors.
To block with what?
Find something.
Let’s move
this fridge to the door.
We're blocking it!
Use these planks to block the door.
Come back for more.
What circus you are creating here?
Why did you block the doors?
What the fuck are you doing here?
What the fuck is happening?
What in the actual...
Get up and leave now.
Why you are looking at me?
Stand up and leave.
-No.
-What?
We need a couple hours more.
Are you out of your fucking mind?
We need to stay here for a while.
Please, wait.
What do you mean "wait"?
I’m going to call the
police now. Is that clear?
Listen, we haven’t done anything wrong.
You listen to me. If I say it’s
over it means "it’s over".
We will leave in a couple of hours.
- No more hours!
- We will clean everything.
You are out of your fucking mind.
Be quiet.
There was a woman
sitting in front of me.
She had an icon...
An icon of Matrona of Moscow.
She was passing it through the rows
so people could pray.
Another person wrote "Our Father" prayer
on a piece of paper
and passed it
through the rows as well.
I remember there were Russian people
sitting next to me.
They were also praying.
I slid down to the floor
and started praying.
"Our Father".
I didn’t know any other prayer
back then.
We also prayed.
Then someone behind Anya started crying.
A shahid girl
who was sitting next to us
she finished her prayer.
She kept her eyes shut.
And told us, whispered:
"Pray, pray".
Just pray.
And at one point
one of shahid girls
started saying something loudly
Girl next to me told afterwards
that shahid girl said if
they start the assault
we will all die
and that’s how we will get into heaven.
I came here and saw
that the doors are blocked.
They blocked it
with a plank and a hose.
What am I supposed to do?
Stand up and leave immediately.
I repeat -
stand up and get out of here now.
Pointless.
Hey you, nun.
Stand up now and open the door.
You don’t understand
when I talk normally to you!
Got it.
We will talk differently then.
Where is police?
On its way.
Switch off the lights.
Let them sit in the dark.
I don’t have the keys.
Find it then!
Later there was a fire
in the orchestra pit.
A fire.
Why did it start?
Anyone remembers the details?
Here you go.
Thank you.
We used the orchestra pit as a toilet
short circuit happened there
and the fire started.
Everyone had to use
the orchestra pit as a toilet
after two women escaped
it was forbidden to leave the hall.
They demanded to use orchestra pit.
Who were those two women?
Anyone knows?
I don’t know.
I haven’t seen them either.
I was one of those two women.
When I could no longer hold it,
I asked to go to the toilet.
I took place in the queue
to the toilet by the aisle.
My kids have already gone
and I haven't.
I kept exchanging
glances with them.
It was my turn.
Me and another woman
we were taken to the bathroom.
One of the terrorists
sat by the toilet
and he listened
carefully to the radio.
He didn't pay attention to us.
When we went inside
there was one more woman.
She was with a child, with boy.
They were drinking water from the tap.
And then
I went into the closet
and heard that
Olga
that was her name
the one who came with me
asking the woman with the child
to close the door
behind her
when she was going to leave.
I got out of the closet, went to sink
to get some water, too.
And I saw Olga opening the window.
I asked her
what she thinks she is doing.
But Olga had already
jumped out of the window.
Continue, Natasha.
I looked down
and I shouted at her
she was on the visor
"What have you done?"
"You will be shot".
From the window.
And if I don’t come back with her
I'd be shot, too.
And she quietly told me
not to scream.
Just jump.
And I jumped.
I immediately felt pain,
I’ve broken my legs.
And when
I was crawling on that visor,
I thought
what have I done
and how I can go back.
But I couldn't go back
anymore.
It was not possible to go back.
It was not possible.
I made a mistake.
And...
I can’t fix it.
I can’t.
Open the door.
Switch on the lights.
All of you will have to go
with me to the police station now.
Here she is!
She organised all of that.
Please don’t, stop.
- It’s a memorial evening.
- Stand up, all, stand up
- We did nothing wrong.
- Stand up, all, stand up
Take her with you.
Look, they have damaged the whole stage.
We will deal with that.
You are coming with us.
Don’t take her.
Samokhina?
Yes, it’s me.
Natalia Mikhailovna
start writing your statement,
I’ve already asked you once.
Father Andrei
Father Andrei
blessed me.
Blessed you to do what?
Everything.
He blessed you to take hostages?
I didn’t take anyone hostage.
They decided to stay.
By their own
free will.
He blessed you to trash the hall?
Not the hall, the stage.
He blessed you to wreck the stage?
Start writing your statement,
I won’t do it for you.
I don’t want to press charges anymore.
I changed my mind.
Sveta.
Everything ok?
Yes, they let us go.
Goodbye.
See you.
Goodbye.
Sveta.
Why didn’t you tell anything?
When?
At the memorial evening.
You didn’t say a word.
You surely have something to say.
I didn’t want to.
Why?
Those who talked
were not enough for you?
Wait!
Do you remember
how the assault started?
Let’s sleep.
We had a tough day.
Do you remember that?
I do.
It was almost morning,
I wanted to sleep until 8 a.m.
but woke up around 4 a.m.
One of the gunmen
started shooting at the ceiling.
Many were frightened
and they also started waking up.
And then what?
There was a sound
like someone was running
on the roof or the attic.
They were saying,
gas was without any colour or smell...
On television...
Is it true?
There was a strong smell.
And there was
something
like a fog near the vents.
Did the gas put you to sleep?
Not immediately.
I remember how I wanted to move
my arm, my leg.
I wanted to hug Lena
and hide under the chair with her.
But I realised
I couldn’t do anything.
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t feel my body.
And then it was like a dream.
I saw that the wall fell on the stage.
Our people had come in and started
shooting the terrorists.
And then? Then what?
I don't remember anything after that.
I woke up in the hospital.
They told me straight away that
my husband
and daughter died.
I know that.
If you know that
then why you started
asking me about that?
You wanted me
to tell you all of that again?
To tell you again that...
To tell you how my husband
and my daughter
died right in front of my eyes.
Why?
Why you organised
that memorial evening?
Why you were asking everyone?
Why?
Because we must remember.
We can’t forget our loved ones.
Our children
have to remember.
We don’t have to remember anything.
People don’t want to remember.
With all the baggage they
have inside, they want to live on with it.
They want to make new families,
raise new kids.
We must remember.
You came here
like it’s a vacation for you.
From your monastery.
Where it’s calm and peaceful.
Where no one can touch you.
You have your own god there.
And here people are afraid
to go outside.
They are afraid of going
into the underground.
I’ve never been to any stage play
or any concert since then.
And I will never go again. Never!
I’m scared.
Fear...
Fear...
Fear is our strongest sin.
Fear.
Good night.
Let’s sleep.
I thought
we were going to have some tea.
Just talk.
Do you want some vodka?
It's ok, it's ok.
When do you stop torturing us?
When do you stop coming here
to remind us about that?
When will you finish praying
for your redemption?
Never.
Never?
I can’t earn redemption.
You can.
It’s impossible to earn redemption
for what I’ve done.
It is possible.
Mum, can I show grandma my dog?
Go to your room!
Do not stick your face out of it!
Shut up!
You’re drunk.
You can’t talk to a child like that.
It’s my house and I can do whatever
I want here. It is clear to you?
I see you are a sober one.
Go wash your dirty mouth! Do you hear me?
You are
a monster.
Hey, you.
Fucking nun.
Get out of here!
Get the hell out of here!
I will not leave.
Get the hell out!
Don’t forget it's my house too.
Get the hell out of it.
Get the hell out of it.
Get the hell out of it.
You won’t make me leave.
It’s my own house,
it’s not clear to you?
You have nothing here.
It was given to me and your father.
To us. Oleg, tell her.
This house was given to us.
Do you hear that?
Even your father is saying it!
You weren’t even born
when we were already living here.
I wish you were dead.
Die!
Die!
Die!
Die!
Are you going by the evening train?
I hope to catch the afternoon one.
Are you going to pass
by Galya's place?
No.
What should I tell her if she asks?
Nothing.
Do you want to stay?
I do.
I do.
But you can’t?
I can't.
I’ve just understood
that I came here for the wrong reason.
I prayed for the wrong things.
I was asking
for the wrong things.
All this time.
I realised my mistake only now.
Fear.
I am full of fear.
How can I get rid of it?
I don’t know.
YEGOR SAMOKHIN
12.02.1989 - 26.10.2002
Ambulance!
Quiet. Are you the relatives? Going with?
- Yes.
- Yes.
Insurance, Passport.
Yes-yes.
- Move to one side.
- Wait.
Dad.
Dad.
Don’t rush!
He is not breathing.
Do you hear me? He is not breathing.
Calm down, don’t stand in the way.
I am not.
He is not breathing!
His head needs to be higher.
He is white already.
He is breathing. Calm down.
Dad!
Dad!
Keep his head higher!
Careful, watch your step!
He’ll get cold!
Where are you taking him without clothing?
You need to calm down. I
won’t let you go with us.
Won’t let me go?
He's cold, why are you not moving?
He is my father!
What a scumbag!
Get in the car. Door is on the other side.
Try being more rude, won’t you?
- Mom, come here.
- I’ll sit in front.
Mum!
What are you doing!?
Mum!
Wait!
What are you doing?
Stop! Mum!
Stop!
The 26th is already booked.
Please choose another day.
We cannot have another day.
I totally understand you.
I’m human too.
I understand what
an important mourning event this is.
And grief that everyone should remember.
We just need half a day.
In the evening.
You should understand my position -
I manage a commercial organization.
The theatre hall is booked
for several months ahead.
We will pay for that.
We have money.
Mother has been blessed
for conducting
this memorial event.
Ok, very good.
I’ll give you
the best price possible but...
God bless you!
We need to sign
a standard rental agreement.
Yes, of course.
Do what you have to do.
Who is going to sign it?
I will.
Do you have a passport with you?
Here’s a paragraph "rent for":
"concert",
"conference", "theatre play".
Can I put a "mourning event"?
A memorial evening.
No, you have to put it down
as a conference.
Hey.
Hi, Galya.
How are you?
- All well, you?
- Fine.
Are you coming on the 26th?
What’s on the 26th?
Memorial evening,
your mum is organising that.
-Not sure.
-Call me then.
Larissa! Hi.
What about that evening?
It’s on the 26th. See you there.
October 23 -
... 26th...
2002.
It’s impossible for us
to forget that date,
to erase it from our memory.
Hi.
The whole world
Hi, Galya.
was watching
the events that unfolded here.
In Moscow
in the Dubrovka Theatre Centre
where terrorists
took hostages from among the artists
and spectators of the musical
What is it that you are organising?
Memorial evening.
You'll come here every year
to organise it?
Galya.
Why you are doing that?
Father Andrei blessed me.
Go back to your Father Andrei
and organise it there. Got it?
Galya, what…
Don’t touch me. Didn’t you
understand what I said?
Why you are like that?
Like what?..
Like what?
Galya, come with dad
on 26th at 7 pm.
I will be waiting for you.
- With dad?
- Yes.
Do you want me to bring here
my paralyzed father?
My dad who pisses and shits himself?
That’s what you want?
What do you mean, paralyzed?
They were away.
He laid
for the whole day
in the hallway while they were away.
They couldn't reach him on the phone
so they came back.
They placed him
immediately in intensive care.
They said it was a massive stroke.
They knew it was a stroke
already while in the ambulance.
Galya…
She asked not to tell you anything.
Let's remember our kids.
For my Vovka.
-You again?
-Yes.
Hi, Galya.
Galya.
I just
wanted to visit you,
I brought a cake.
Let’s
just talk.
Let’s just have a tea and talk.
Just talk.
I don’t have time to talk.
I need to leave for a bit.
Have some tea with Yegor.
Ok.
I’ve changed the father already.
Don’t disturb him.
Ok.
Will you drink tea?
No?
I need to steer it first.
That’s how I always drink it.
Ok, steer it then.
I’ll have it with the cake,
without sugar.
That’s it. And now…
Will you have some cake?
Are you making a potion?
Yes, I’ll have tea.
I’m going to have
some tea with cake.
Ok, steer it then.
Will you try it?
No, let’s play.
Try a piece.
- No!
- You don’t like it?
Me and your mom love this cake.
- Ok.
- Wait.
Shall we feed the dog?
Let me go to the toilet first.
Toilet?
When I come back,
- steer my potion.
- Ok.
Do you need the light on?
- Yeah!
- Ok.
Don’t tell anyone where I’m.
I won’t.
I’ll be waiting for you.
Just don’t close the door.
I want to pee.
I’ll be waiting.
And steer it…
Just don’t close the door.
I’m waiting for you.
Come here.
My willy is in the shape
of letter "F".
Did you steer it?
Yes. You should steer it too.
Did you put some sugar?
I’ll have one more piece.
One more and let’s play.
Very tasty.
Let’s play now!
Wait, you hear that?
And now…
oh, grandpa.
Wait for me here, ok?
I’ll go see grandpa
and come back, ok?
Is it ok?
Ok.
I'll be quick!
Hi.
Hi, Oleg.
Hello.
Hello.
Galya said
I shouldn’t enter your room.
Do you need anything?
Are you comfortable?
I’ll fix your pillows.
Is everything ok?
Calm down, clam down.
Don’t be shy.
I’ve seen
already everything down there.
Oh, I got it.
I am going to change it now.
I need to find diapers.
I’ll come back.
Come on, Yegor.
I will go play with a cat.
Nice kitty.
Go play in the living room, ok?
Just play here.
Stay here, ok?
I’m helping grandpa.
I’ll come back to you soon.
Here are...
Here are the diapers.
Alright.
Now we are going to change you.
We’ll manage, won’t we?
Of course, we will.
Here.
That's it.
We will carefully put it here.
Alright.
Put your hand here.
We will put it there.
Alright, just couple seconds.
Ok, now we're going to...
Let me
prepare a fresh sheet
and I will need
to turn you.
Help me here.
Go on your side.
One, two, three!
Very good!
Very good, Oleg.
Alright.
That's it.
That's really good.
Now turn back.
That's it! Very good.
That's it!
I’ll fix it now.
A star fell down from the sky,
right in sweetie's pants.
Do you remember what's next?
Do you remember...
what's next?
Let it all blow up there,
as far as there is no war.
Why should we remember such nonsense?
Show me your ticket, please.
I'm a hostage.
Wait a second. Your day is tomorrow.
Not today.
What do you mean?
I was told by the management that
tomorrow is the day for hostages.
There will be a guest list.
Can't I come in for just five minutes?
You have to understand I can’t let
you in
without a guest list.
That’s what I was told.
If you have any questions,
go see the management they'll let you in.
It’s fine.
I have nothing to do with that,
it’s up to the management.
I would let you in.
But with a guest list.
There is no guest list
so what can I do.
With a child?
No, one adult.
500 rubles.
Can I choose a seat?
Sure, let’s see what’s available.
I need row 8, seat 26.
Row 8, seat 26.
It's free. 500 rubles.
Good afternoon.
Row 8, seat 26, right side.
Get out of here!
I told you to get out of here!
Go, leave. We are talking with dad…
Leave? I asked you not to enter his room.
- It’s ok, Dad and I are ok…
- Don’t touch me!
Why did you enter?
Why did you enter?
-He called me.
-Dad, called you?
-I changed his diaper.
-You changed him?
Sorry for that, dad.
Get out of here. Now. Out!
Before I break your jaw. Get out!
I’m counting till three.
Your dad and I were just talking.
One!
- Why are you so harsh?
- Two!
Sorry, dad!
Why you are like that?
What have I done?
Two and a quarter!
What have I done?
What have you done?
Go and tell others at the memorial
evening what you’ve done.
Go and tell them what you’ve done!
What have you done...
Almost three!
Galya.
What are you waiting for?
I’ll fucking throw you out of here now!
-Good bye.
-Bye forever!
Bye forever!
Hello.
Can I talk to Valeriy Gennadievich?
I am Natalya Samokhina, a hostage.
About the memorial evening tomorrow.
We would like to invite him.
At eight o'clock,
after the evening service,
we wanted to gather in the theatre.
Tell him, please.
Thank you.
Do you eat chops?
Meat ones?
No, fish ones.
Yes, I eat it.
I’ll give you a couple?
No, just one.
So far, there aren’t many people
who come tomorrow.
How many people came last year?
Even less.
Even less?
On the 23rd, no one came,
it was very cold
and on the 26th a few people came.
When I was there for
the 15th anniversary
I’ve seen a lot of people.
For the 15th anniversary even TV came.
Someone even held a speech.
Our people
forget everything so quickly.
Only yesterday
a horrific event took place
and today no one remembers that.
Go on, eat.
Lord have mercy.
Let us pray to the Lord
for peace from above
and for the salvation of our souls.
Lord have mercy.
For the remission of sins
in the blessed memory of the departed
let us pray to the Lord
let us pray to the Lord.
Of the ever-memorable
servants of God...
Brothers and Sisters
today is a memorial day of
the Iveron icon of the Mother of God.
This is a special for us
united by the memory of the tragic events
that took place here 17 years ago.
Memory of the victims and hostages
of a terrible terrorist act.
An act that was designated
to install fear in people
And people who do these things
think they serve God.
Lord tells us
"Do not be afraid of those who kill the
body but who cannot kill the soul.
Fear him who can plunge body and soul
into The Fire Gehenna".
Brothers and sisters.
Fear is only a feeling
it has no content.
We were not afraid then,
and we will not be afraid now.
Today mother is here.
Mother Natalia from the Voskresensky
Goritsky monastery.
Natalia was with us.
The mother survived the tragedy,
and lost her son.
Today she will hold a memorial event
in the theatre hall
to which she asks us all to come.
Brothers and sisters
let’s remember those difficult days,
so that the memory of loved ones
never leaves us.
Amen.
So good that you came here. Thank you.
17 years ago we survived
such events
that we cannot forget.
But...
as time passes
by everything is being erased.
And a lot is being forgotten.
Svetlana and I...
to make it easier
to restore the situation
we bought
inflatable mannequins.
There are three colours.
White ones are for...
As we have decided
they are victims
who didn’t survive the attack.
Black - for terrorists
who were in the hall
maybe some of them were near you.
Blue - for those
who
couldn’t come today.
For some reasons
anyway, they were
at first, total strangers.
But they were
your neighbours in the rows
and you know something
about them and can tell it now.
So that we could also remember them.
Some have
already passed away
over the last 17 years.
When you want to say something...
Take the mic.
When you want to say something
raise your hand
and I’ll come to you with a mic.
Now, Mother Natalia and I
will give the mannequins
that you need to inflate.
Just to remind you -
white is
for the victims
black - for terrorists
blue - for those, who couldn’t come
today
for some reason.
-I need a black one.
-One second.
-I need a blue one.
-Blue one as well.
-Here is a blue one.
-I need two - blue and white.
Blue one for me.
Here are two of blue.
Blue one as well.
I can't even open it!
Let me do that.
-Which one for you?
-Blue and white.
-Thank you.
-You're welcome.
I need blue,
for those who didn’t come.
Two?
How do I do that?
This is valve there.
Just hold it.
How should I do that?
Just hold it. That's it.
My name is Ekaterina.
I came on the 23rd
to watch the musical
together with my husband,
ex-husband now, and niece.
We were seating close to the stage.
The second part of the musical
it started
at nine o'clock.
Nine o’clock sharp.
Five minutes later, a man
in a camouflage,
came out to the stage
wearing a black mask,
with a machine gun over his shoulder.
Without a word, he fired some shots
at the ceiling above the stage.
A few light bulbs shattered,
shards of glass fell down
but the dancers continued to dance
they haven’t stopped yet
and musicians continued to play.
More terrorists appeared
in the aisle to the right.
They also fired some shots
and that’s when the music stopped.
Dancers stopped.
The gunman on the stage
grabbed the closest artist
dragged him to the edge of the stage
and pushed him into the aisle.
Other artists left the stage
under
the pointed guns of the terrorists.
The audience took
the first shots laughing
as if it was a bad joke
the shots were loud
and everyone was wondering
what would happen next.
Gradually, more terrorists started
to appear,
there were girls in black
with their faces covered with burqas.
They didn't seem
to wear explosive belts -
they put it on later.
Then they demanded
that everyone put their hands behind
their heads and everyone laughed.
The idea that this is not a joke
occurred as soon as music stopped.
I felt my heart beat
twice as fast.
But after a moment I calmed down
and told myself -
"It can't be happening. It's a joke!
Very stupid, but just
a joke!"
When they demanded again
"Hands behind your head!"
someone loudly shouted -
"behind whose head?"
But then the terrorist
that was walking
down the aisle.
And then he hit that young guy,
first with foot and then with gun.
He hit the guy who either said something
to him, or tried to stand up.
The sight of blood
running from the guy’s temple
convinced me that it wasn’t
just a joke.
And then someone
from the hostages said
you need to put your hands on your head.
And I said why?
And they said
it’s a terrorist attack,
didn’t you understand?
And I said - no, I didn’t.
I said - ok
and I put my hands on my head.
But I didn’t understand anything.
I didn’t think anything.
After it all ended
I was surprised by the reaction of people
who were asking me
if I was scared.
I didn’t know what to tell them.
I said - I think,
from your point of view
it looks different
because I wasn’t scared.
It was something...
Not fear. It was something
absolutely different.
There were several layers of feelings.
When you enter,
and see that in one part of the hall
some guys and girls are smiling,
chatting. There were a lot of us
who were rehearsing upstairs.
And I was looking at them
in the hall and saw that some of them
started talking and laughing
they were passing notes to each other.
Asking "did you hear that?",
making jokes.
And I thought - look at that guy,
he got around already.
He’s already met a girl
and they have their
own thing going on.
Other guys
were just sitting like that.
Then someone told me that my mum
is here as well, on the third row.
"Look. She's on third row."
I looked down and I saw
my mum looking on the balcony,
to check if I’m there.
And I waved at her - "hi".
I was surprised to see her.
I don’t know
why I started talking about it now.
I really don’t know.
What were the terrorists’ demands?
To withdraw the federal troops
from Chechnya.
I remember one in camouflage,
he was some kind of press secretary.
Others called him Aslanbek or Aslan.
He was walking through the rows,
communicating with the hostages.
He told us to take our phones
and call our families
friends and television.
So they would arrive here,
to the theatre.
I hid the phone.
Then I pulled it out
and called my friend.
I said that I was held hostage.
Asked her to call my daughter later.
Then I
called my daughter myself.
I didn’t know how to tell her that...
that her father and I,
her sister and her nephew
- all held hostages.
That was so weird.
I tried to hide
what happened for a while
but the daughter understood at once
that there was something bad going on.
Then they made everybody
change their seats.
Can I continue?
I remember that women were told to sit
on the right side and men on the left.
They allowed us to stay with children.
They allowed us to stay together.
My son stayed with me.
They allowed me to.
And my husband
managed to take the seat
right by the aisle.
So we ended up sitting not
that far from each other
and we could
look at each other.
And even talk occasionally.
You know
one of the terrorists
that was on stage...
I’ll come over to you now.
One of the terrorists,
that was on a stage
he had spoken loudly about
a withdrawal of troops from Chechnya.
Everyone listened to him,
the hall was quiet.
And then he...
he said that as long as
there is no assault
we were not in danger,
but if the assault begins
they would blow up the whole theatre.
And for every terrorist killed,
they would kill ten hostages.
Someone from the audience shouted that
the withdrawal of troops
takes a long time
to which one of the shahids
who were sitting next to me replied
that they were not in a hurry
and were ready to stay for
as long as necessary.
Then Aslan came out on stage
carrying a radio.
He screamed:
"Listen to your radio lying!".
I didn’t hear
what they said on the air
but I assume they didn’t like it.
Is there anyone today,
who was sitting on the balcony?
My daughter was moved to the balcony.
When everyone was changing their seats
we were in the toilet
and when we returned
the gunman, who accompanied a few girls
sent us all to the balcony.
Later,
the terrorists spend a long time
looking for the keys
to the side doors of the balcony.
They just lost them.
Then they tried
to barricade it with chairs
and for this purpose
began to break off one row.
Aslan asked
if anyone wanted to help them.
One guy volunteered
to break off the chairs, but Aslan told
that it isn't necessary anymore.
One shahid girl sat next to the door
she had already
put on the belt with explosives
She was
addressed as
Ir or Ira, but I wasn't sure
if that was her real name
more like a nickname.
Unlike other suicide bombers,
she opened her face straight away
so we called her "Gulchatai".
She looked very young,
an ordinary Caucasian girl
who you can usually see
on the street or at the market.
She was always frowning,
but it was kind of unnatural.
She looked very, very nervous.
Let’s talk about Romanova now.
Maybe someone wants to talk about her?
Let me talk about her.
Ok.
-Take the mic.
-Thank you.
My name is Victoria.
Olga Romanova came in once
they've already declared on TV
about the siege.
She somehow
made it through the entire cordon,
walked into the hall
in the concert hall.
And down the aisle to the stage.
She came up to one of the terrorists,
they pointed guns at her.
She loudly demanded that
they would immediately
release all the hostages.
They told her to raise her hands
she didn't.
She told them to
let at least the women
and the children out.
Then gunman came close to her.
Like extremely close.
And told the others she was drunk.
He gestured her
to walk away.
He demanded
to take her out.
They took her right here.
Through the side door.
All of us who
were sitting here
we saw how
one of them pushed her
in the back
with the back of the gun.
She was saying something, I think
to keep their
hands off.
They hit her one more time and she...
she just fell on the floor.
Everyone who sat in our row saw
that terrorist started shooting at her
unloading the whole
machine gun magazine
at her.
In the hall, everyone froze.
Complete silence.
As we
realised that
the first blood was shed.
We took it from the buffet.
Come here, take something to eat.
You are probably hungry.
-Come here.
-Anyone?
Sparkling water?
-Should I give it to you?
-Thank you.
Surprisingly, no one was hungry
for such a long time.
Probably because of stress.
Then when
we got hungry the terrorists
took out from buffet
what they called "trophies". It
was buffet food
in the boxes.
They asked the guys from the hostages
to help them bring the boxes
to the stage.
The shahid girl,
who was sitting behind us...
yes, she was sitting right here
told the guys from the group of actors
to stand up and help.
The guys were carrying boxes
to the stage.
There were two-litre packs of juice
sparkling water, chocolate,
chewing gum, candy
the usual buffet food.
Strange that
they also brought melted ice cream.
The militants loved to
throw food
from the stage into the hall.
And also
after all of this
Then they put two chairs on the stage
back to back
and tied some packages
with explosive to it.
There was that screeching sound.
That sound stayed with you.
They were doing it
in different places of the stage.
Then they put a canister on top of it.
There was a box with the wires
under the chairs
and they started connected the wires.
Another gunman was hanging a flag
on the stage
it was some Arabic script
on a black background.
I afterwards saw the same flag
hanging in the mezzanine.
So...
There was conflict between
the terrorists and our electricians
because our...
The terrorists must have broken
sound and light equipment.
All the lights
that were blinking
went off.
Before that, for two hours, light rays
continued to fall on the stage
Tell us about the suicide bomber girl,
who was sitting near you.
I remember only
that her face was always covered.
I never saw her eyes.
I don't know her name
but she was very calm.
She was one of the few
who talked to some of the hostages.
Apparently she was still a child.
Something like 15 or 16 years old.
What did she say?
She didn’t talk to us.
I’ve just seen her talking to others.
Katerina wants to add something.
I remember her telling that her father
and brother were killed in the war.
She was saying that there was a war
and we go to theatres here.
And also something
around the time
they started handing out food
they hung something from the balcony
like a gas cylinder.
Everyone started saying
that it was a land mine.
Same one was installed
not far behind me in the stalls.
Right behind guys.
Another suicide bomber was sited there
and the terrorists spend a long time
connecting wires to that cylinder.
You wanted to add something?
I remember that when
they were installing a land mine
Aslan was going through the aisle
and asked men whether anybody
had any knowledge of mines.
He asked men.
He asked those who did to stand up.
But no one did
so he laughed and told them:
"You are no men!".
We then thought that
he needed minesweepers
to convince everyone
that the bombs were real.
I’m sorry but are you going to
stay up long tonight?
We agreed with the management
that we will have the whole evening.
I understand, but understand me.
It's midnight already.
I have to turn the lights off.
But we...
Wait a little. We are not done yet.
-How much longer?
-We should...
Some more time.
I understand.
But I need to turn the lights off.
- Give us some more time.
- We agreed with the management.
We will try to wrap up fast.
Just put it back.
Some water for you?
Thank you. Just put it back, please.
I will have to kick you out soon.
You don’t have to kick us out.
I have to lock everything.
Galya!
She came.
I was struck by one of
the terrorists looks.
He was young,
he looked
like 18 years old.
He finished
just a few classes of school
before leaving for the war.
He loved picking up cell phones
that were piled high in the aisle
and studying them.
He kept on asking about their brands.
He just kept on approaching
the hostages.
He played games
on those phones.
The phones rang often
on the first day
they were ringing nonstop
and then he answered he liked
to
talk to the hostages’ families
in an arrogant tone.
He distributed cell phones
to some other terrorists
so they called each other.
Can you tell us about the toilet?
Galya, don’t interrupt him, please.
He was taking small groups of people
to the toilets, where he passed them
to other terrorists.
To go to the toilet you had to stand
in the queue
by the wall in the side aisle.
And you had to wait.
They were taking us to the toilet.
First they took men
to the men's toilet, and then
they arranged the toilet right
in the room next to the hall.
There was some kind of an office.
They even moved tables,
they made toilets right there.
They even sprinkled bleach in room,
so there was no strong smell.
Tell us more about the toilet.
Please continue.
Women were taken
to the ladies room by the balcony.
That day two women
escaped from the toilet.
And the terrorists said -
that’s it
from now on you will go to the toilet
in the orchestra pit.
They also said that if anyone escapes
they will kill ten hostages
for each one who escaped.
However, when those two women escaped
they haven’t killed anyone.
Thank you.
It became so quiet at some point
that we dozed off.
We
calmed down.
And for the first time we dozed off.
Then we woke up
because everyone was screaming
and then I was told that some man
hit the shahid girl in the head
with the bottle
and then ran in the aisle.
The shahid girl started shooting at him.
But she missed him and instead
shot a young woman
who was sitting next to the aisle.
She was wounded in her stomach.
Badly.
And she just fell
and everybody saw that...
Please, continue.
Everyone saw how another terrorist
fired a machine gun
and shot that man.
And
that girl, she was my niece.
And...
And I...
I couldn’t help her at all.
You are leaving, Katerina? Wait!
Just wait a little bit.
Good bye!
And then terrorists...
I’ll come to you.
And then the terrorists told everyone
to return the glass bottles
and they put them back
in the boxes.
I was backstage when...
the attack happened
and then I hid in the dressing room.
I sat there for quite a while.
I was lucky.
There is one moment that
still stays rather mystical for me.
Only I know about that.
It’s only my psyche, my memory.
No one has ever talked
about that particular moment.
And when we were discussing it
no one has ever talked
about that particular moment.
I was sitting under the table
in the dressing room.
I was sitting there with my parents.
At some point
I started
realising that something bad
something unexplainable is happening.
But I wasn’t afraid.
I was just observing.
I was in a state of "here and now".
When they say "to be here and now",
it’s exactly that moment
when you are not reflecting
on anything
you just exist in "that moment",
under the table.
Because nothing else
exists in that moment.
While sitting under the table
I was thinking that maybe a batman
or whichever superhero will come now
and it will be over.
And in that very moment
I’ve heard a voice
of a Russian man, I’m not sure
whether he was real or not
Speaking about memory
that somehow stayed in my memory.
I’ve heard that voice.
He shouted: "raise your hands up".
Maybe it was a Russian soldier
or a kamikaze hostage from the hall.
A gun was fired then and we’ve heard...
Actually, not we,
I'm not sure about the others -
I’ve heard a sound of a body falling
to the floor.
And at that very moment it hit me.
Something happened at this moment.
It became obvious to me
that a superhero won’t...
That he won’t come to save us.
Because the man
whose voice I’ve heard is dead.
That’s it.
That’s it.
Let’s wrap up here.
Why you are looking at me like that?
Am I not clear?
Who is in charge here?
You?
Mother signed all the papers.
Have some decency.
Take your people and leave.
We are almost done.
Without "almost".
Without "almost".
It’s time for you to leave.
Collect your stuff from the cloakroom
and leave.
What’s the point of sitting here?
Let’s stay for a bit
and go till the end.
Don’t leave. We will go till the end.
Natasha, I’m not sure. Go till what end?
I think you are totally
detached from the reality.
Why sit here, digging into details?
The underground is closing soon.
I’m done here.
Guys.
Good bye.
We need to talk it through
at least once.
At least once to go through till the end.
We can’t just leave.
I understand it’s not easy
it’s painful.
I understand that.
But we need to find
strength in us to do that.
We should do this work.
Otherwise, we will keep dragging
all our mistakes along us.
And because of that
it can happen again.
And people will suffer again.
Jesus, nothing has changed.
Natasha, what are you doing there?
Sveta, come help me here.
We have to block it.
So that they won’t disturb us.
We have to close doors.
That's it!
Let’s do it for our loved ones.
We did love them, didn’t we?
Why "did"?
We still love them.
We will do it for them.
We will need large wooden planks.
You're right.
We will find something.
We are sitting here, saying nothing.
Here we go.
Every time a disaster happens to us
we just sit and say nothing.
That’s why they follow us.
One disaster after another.
That’s because
we say nothing.
Because we are too scared
to say something.
Like we are dead.
Pinned down by our fears.
Why are you sitting?
Come over.
I won’t let you out anyway.
Stop being scared.
Everyone, come here, help us.
It’s our life and we will live it
minute by minute today.
Why they keep interrupting us?
How we can help?
Take care of that door.
You need to block it.
Just block these two doors.
To block with what?
Find something.
Let’s move
this fridge to the door.
We're blocking it!
Use these planks to block the door.
Come back for more.
What circus you are creating here?
Why did you block the doors?
What the fuck are you doing here?
What the fuck is happening?
What in the actual...
Get up and leave now.
Why you are looking at me?
Stand up and leave.
-No.
-What?
We need a couple hours more.
Are you out of your fucking mind?
We need to stay here for a while.
Please, wait.
What do you mean "wait"?
I’m going to call the
police now. Is that clear?
Listen, we haven’t done anything wrong.
You listen to me. If I say it’s
over it means "it’s over".
We will leave in a couple of hours.
- No more hours!
- We will clean everything.
You are out of your fucking mind.
Be quiet.
There was a woman
sitting in front of me.
She had an icon...
An icon of Matrona of Moscow.
She was passing it through the rows
so people could pray.
Another person wrote "Our Father" prayer
on a piece of paper
and passed it
through the rows as well.
I remember there were Russian people
sitting next to me.
They were also praying.
I slid down to the floor
and started praying.
"Our Father".
I didn’t know any other prayer
back then.
We also prayed.
Then someone behind Anya started crying.
A shahid girl
who was sitting next to us
she finished her prayer.
She kept her eyes shut.
And told us, whispered:
"Pray, pray".
Just pray.
And at one point
one of shahid girls
started saying something loudly
Girl next to me told afterwards
that shahid girl said if
they start the assault
we will all die
and that’s how we will get into heaven.
I came here and saw
that the doors are blocked.
They blocked it
with a plank and a hose.
What am I supposed to do?
Stand up and leave immediately.
I repeat -
stand up and get out of here now.
Pointless.
Hey you, nun.
Stand up now and open the door.
You don’t understand
when I talk normally to you!
Got it.
We will talk differently then.
Where is police?
On its way.
Switch off the lights.
Let them sit in the dark.
I don’t have the keys.
Find it then!
Later there was a fire
in the orchestra pit.
A fire.
Why did it start?
Anyone remembers the details?
Here you go.
Thank you.
We used the orchestra pit as a toilet
short circuit happened there
and the fire started.
Everyone had to use
the orchestra pit as a toilet
after two women escaped
it was forbidden to leave the hall.
They demanded to use orchestra pit.
Who were those two women?
Anyone knows?
I don’t know.
I haven’t seen them either.
I was one of those two women.
When I could no longer hold it,
I asked to go to the toilet.
I took place in the queue
to the toilet by the aisle.
My kids have already gone
and I haven't.
I kept exchanging
glances with them.
It was my turn.
Me and another woman
we were taken to the bathroom.
One of the terrorists
sat by the toilet
and he listened
carefully to the radio.
He didn't pay attention to us.
When we went inside
there was one more woman.
She was with a child, with boy.
They were drinking water from the tap.
And then
I went into the closet
and heard that
Olga
that was her name
the one who came with me
asking the woman with the child
to close the door
behind her
when she was going to leave.
I got out of the closet, went to sink
to get some water, too.
And I saw Olga opening the window.
I asked her
what she thinks she is doing.
But Olga had already
jumped out of the window.
Continue, Natasha.
I looked down
and I shouted at her
she was on the visor
"What have you done?"
"You will be shot".
From the window.
And if I don’t come back with her
I'd be shot, too.
And she quietly told me
not to scream.
Just jump.
And I jumped.
I immediately felt pain,
I’ve broken my legs.
And when
I was crawling on that visor,
I thought
what have I done
and how I can go back.
But I couldn't go back
anymore.
It was not possible to go back.
It was not possible.
I made a mistake.
And...
I can’t fix it.
I can’t.
Open the door.
Switch on the lights.
All of you will have to go
with me to the police station now.
Here she is!
She organised all of that.
Please don’t, stop.
- It’s a memorial evening.
- Stand up, all, stand up
- We did nothing wrong.
- Stand up, all, stand up
Take her with you.
Look, they have damaged the whole stage.
We will deal with that.
You are coming with us.
Don’t take her.
Samokhina?
Yes, it’s me.
Natalia Mikhailovna
start writing your statement,
I’ve already asked you once.
Father Andrei
Father Andrei
blessed me.
Blessed you to do what?
Everything.
He blessed you to take hostages?
I didn’t take anyone hostage.
They decided to stay.
By their own
free will.
He blessed you to trash the hall?
Not the hall, the stage.
He blessed you to wreck the stage?
Start writing your statement,
I won’t do it for you.
I don’t want to press charges anymore.
I changed my mind.
Sveta.
Everything ok?
Yes, they let us go.
Goodbye.
See you.
Goodbye.
Sveta.
Why didn’t you tell anything?
When?
At the memorial evening.
You didn’t say a word.
You surely have something to say.
I didn’t want to.
Why?
Those who talked
were not enough for you?
Wait!
Do you remember
how the assault started?
Let’s sleep.
We had a tough day.
Do you remember that?
I do.
It was almost morning,
I wanted to sleep until 8 a.m.
but woke up around 4 a.m.
One of the gunmen
started shooting at the ceiling.
Many were frightened
and they also started waking up.
And then what?
There was a sound
like someone was running
on the roof or the attic.
They were saying,
gas was without any colour or smell...
On television...
Is it true?
There was a strong smell.
And there was
something
like a fog near the vents.
Did the gas put you to sleep?
Not immediately.
I remember how I wanted to move
my arm, my leg.
I wanted to hug Lena
and hide under the chair with her.
But I realised
I couldn’t do anything.
I couldn’t move.
I couldn’t feel my body.
And then it was like a dream.
I saw that the wall fell on the stage.
Our people had come in and started
shooting the terrorists.
And then? Then what?
I don't remember anything after that.
I woke up in the hospital.
They told me straight away that
my husband
and daughter died.
I know that.
If you know that
then why you started
asking me about that?
You wanted me
to tell you all of that again?
To tell you again that...
To tell you how my husband
and my daughter
died right in front of my eyes.
Why?
Why you organised
that memorial evening?
Why you were asking everyone?
Why?
Because we must remember.
We can’t forget our loved ones.
Our children
have to remember.
We don’t have to remember anything.
People don’t want to remember.
With all the baggage they
have inside, they want to live on with it.
They want to make new families,
raise new kids.
We must remember.
You came here
like it’s a vacation for you.
From your monastery.
Where it’s calm and peaceful.
Where no one can touch you.
You have your own god there.
And here people are afraid
to go outside.
They are afraid of going
into the underground.
I’ve never been to any stage play
or any concert since then.
And I will never go again. Never!
I’m scared.
Fear...
Fear...
Fear is our strongest sin.
Fear.
Good night.
Let’s sleep.
I thought
we were going to have some tea.
Just talk.
Do you want some vodka?
It's ok, it's ok.
When do you stop torturing us?
When do you stop coming here
to remind us about that?
When will you finish praying
for your redemption?
Never.
Never?
I can’t earn redemption.
You can.
It’s impossible to earn redemption
for what I’ve done.
It is possible.
Mum, can I show grandma my dog?
Go to your room!
Do not stick your face out of it!
Shut up!
You’re drunk.
You can’t talk to a child like that.
It’s my house and I can do whatever
I want here. It is clear to you?
I see you are a sober one.
Go wash your dirty mouth! Do you hear me?
You are
a monster.
Hey, you.
Fucking nun.
Get out of here!
Get the hell out of here!
I will not leave.
Get the hell out!
Don’t forget it's my house too.
Get the hell out of it.
Get the hell out of it.
Get the hell out of it.
You won’t make me leave.
It’s my own house,
it’s not clear to you?
You have nothing here.
It was given to me and your father.
To us. Oleg, tell her.
This house was given to us.
Do you hear that?
Even your father is saying it!
You weren’t even born
when we were already living here.
I wish you were dead.
Die!
Die!
Die!
Die!
Are you going by the evening train?
I hope to catch the afternoon one.
Are you going to pass
by Galya's place?
No.
What should I tell her if she asks?
Nothing.
Do you want to stay?
I do.
I do.
But you can’t?
I can't.
I’ve just understood
that I came here for the wrong reason.
I prayed for the wrong things.
I was asking
for the wrong things.
All this time.
I realised my mistake only now.
Fear.
I am full of fear.
How can I get rid of it?
I don’t know.
YEGOR SAMOKHIN
12.02.1989 - 26.10.2002
Ambulance!
Quiet. Are you the relatives? Going with?
- Yes.
- Yes.
Insurance, Passport.
Yes-yes.
- Move to one side.
- Wait.
Dad.
Dad.
Don’t rush!
He is not breathing.
Do you hear me? He is not breathing.
Calm down, don’t stand in the way.
I am not.
He is not breathing!
His head needs to be higher.
He is white already.
He is breathing. Calm down.
Dad!
Dad!
Keep his head higher!
Careful, watch your step!
He’ll get cold!
Where are you taking him without clothing?
You need to calm down. I
won’t let you go with us.
Won’t let me go?
He's cold, why are you not moving?
He is my father!
What a scumbag!
Get in the car. Door is on the other side.
Try being more rude, won’t you?
- Mom, come here.
- I’ll sit in front.
Mum!
What are you doing!?
Mum!
Wait!
What are you doing?
Stop! Mum!
Stop!