Alexander Rodnyansky analyzes the cultural and social life of Russia in the 2000s and early 2020s using nine films he produced as an example. Cinema, Rodnyansky believes, reflects the changing moods in society better than any social surveys. In this book, he recalls his professional path - from "The 9th Company" filmed by Fyodor Bondarchuk to Vladimir Bitokov's film "Mom, I'm Home" - in order to understand how totalitarian tendencies, mixed with deep resentment, arrogant militarism and anti-Western paranoia, developed in Russia against the backdrop of a seemingly peaceful and well-fed life.

Alexander Rodnyansky is a Ukrainian director, producer and media manager, winner of numerous prestigious awards in the field of cinema, a member of film academies in different countries of the world. From 2002 to 2022, he worked in Russia, where he produced films and TV series, directed the Kinotavr film festival, and headed the STS Media television holding. After the attack of Russian troops on Ukraine in February 2022, he condemned the actions of the Kremlin and left Russia.