Courage

During the contested 2020 presidential elections in Belarus, three actors from an underground theatre in Minsk are caught-up in the wake of mass protests disputing the legitimacy of Alexander Lukashenko’s sixth term. It draws them onto the open streets of Minsk to protest for freedom of speech and the long-awaited change of power, but the people's voice is brutally crushed by the regime's security apparatus. Members of the theatre group are arrested, and the country is on the brink of civil war. The film brings together stunning footage from the front lines of the demonstrations and an exploration of the lives of the hopeful and creative people who participated. Courage accompanies the brave and peaceful resistance of Maryna, Pavel and Denis in the lead up to – and during – the protests, and offers a deep personal insight into the Belarus of today.

Courage will be followed by a Q&A with Aliaksei Paluyan which will be shown after the screening and be available on Selects.