The film “было не было” follows Kira as she travels to Russia’s Murmansk region in search of a father who went to sea and never returned. Her guide says he knows where the man is, but viewers soon realize he is lying.
The film was presented at the Mayak festival of contemporary Russian cinema in Gelendzhik. The program included three debut features about women’s desires and dreams, two of them directed by women.
Kira, played by Vera Yengalycheva, grew up without her father. He went to sea aboard the trawler “Peter I” and disappeared. As an adult, she travels to the Murmansk region to look for him.
Her companion is Petya, played by Vladislav Medvedev. He says he worked with Kira’s father on the same trawler and knows where he is now. Viewers quickly understand that Petya is lying, although his reason is unclear.
Kira trusts him anyway. Together they travel through a cold night and encounter strangers along the way. The story follows her search and her growing uncertainty about the man who has promised to lead her to her father.