When military mobilization began in Russia, Doulan left Yakutia for Georgia. He turned his apartment into a small kitchen to make a living selling sushi. In Batumi, where little reminds him of home, Doulan searches for something that might bring back the feeling of his homeland – in the local landscapes, people, signs, and even animals. Sometimes, he plays Yakut songs and sings along, hoping to at least mentally transport himself back to the place he left behind.
Republic of Sakha (Yakutia), Russia, 2025, 20 min, sakha, russian, english
with English and Bulgarian subtitles
Director: Sakhamin Trofimov
DOP: Sakhamin Trofimov
Music: Sasha Dubrovsky
Director’s Biography:
Sakhamin Trofimov is a documentary filmmaker and producer from Yakutia (Republic of Sakha, Russia). He began his career in the Yakut film industry in 2018. In 2020, he graduated from the Docdocdoc School of Documentary Photography in Saint Petersburg. In 2024, he graduated from the Un/Filmed Documentary School. His work addresses decolonial themes, indigenous peoples, human rights, and environmental issues. Sakhamin currently lives in Lyon, France.