Core of the World

A simple and hardworking family live in the remote countryside and survive on breeding foxes and hunting dogs. They employ Egor (Stepan Devonin), a kind-hearted yet tortured veterinarian, who cares for the animals, cleans the kennels, oversees the workers, and meets with clients. Rejected by his own family and terrified of human intimacy, Egor prefers the company of four-legged creatures. Meanwhile, a group of idealistic city-dwelling activists arrives and begins to target the family to stop so-called abusive practices. Egor’s animal instincts are awoken. With a deep-seated longing to be part of a pack, Egor will take any action to gain the respect of Nikolai (Dmitriy Podnozov), the facility’s master, and perhaps even win the love of his daughter Dasha (Jana Sekste). But if Egor is to live among people, he must also learn to behave like one. (Toronto International Film Festival)