Popular musicians and actors read aloud fragments of real-life explanations given by police officers on the reasons how, according to the police, the torture victim got injured. The explanations sound unrealistic and absurd, as if they were describing a scene out of a cartoon – for instance, “the person fell and started banging his head against a tree.” Every quote is illustrated with an animated sequence styled after classic cartoons, to emphasize how unbelievable they are. In the end of the film, the victims provide their own explanations of what happened.

Police violence is one of the most sensitive issues that are taboo in modern Russia. 1 out of every 10 Russian citizens has experienced torture at the hands of law enforcement (Levada Analytical Center). 3 out of 4 people who file a complaint against torture in Russia are refused investigation(Committee against torture). Police violence occurs in varying circumstances, from squashing peaceful protests to boosting crime clearance rate, or controlling prisoners in jails. The Committee against Torture is one of a few organizations in Russia that help victims of torture.

We emphasize the aspect of the problem that becomes apparent almost every time when a victim tries to bring the perpetrators to justice. The police officers get off with explanations that feature their own versions of how the victims got injured. These explanations often sound completely unrealistic and absurd.