Mummies / Mamochki

South of Russia. Rostov-upon-Don. Working outskirts. The main character of the movie is an 18-year-old girl, who has an alcoholic father, a paralyzed mother, a brother, who is always taking off, leaving his wife with whom there are constant arguments about their lack of living space. She has spent her whole life has in semi-destroyed barracks, surrounded by drunkards. Julia’s life is gloomy and aimless. She used to trade herself to earn money, and the only time she felt a fragment of normality about her existence was when she lived with her granny years ago.
Now Julia feels spring in her soul, she is expecting her baby. She is also longing for happiness, which she experienced once in the past. Her partner Ivan comes from a normal family, who want to hear nothing of his future child and marriage. Ivan adapts his life to Julia’s craftily: He starts to drink and to steal, just like everyone else in her environment. Ivan enjoys this relaxed life. He wants a baby daughter, threatening that if their baby is a boy, he will leave him in the maternity home. A lazy and sleepy Julia makes some unsuccessful attempts to find a job, helps her friend and witnesses quarrels in her own family.
The film shows the barracks, the quarrels, the squalor, the lice, the fights, an ambulance carrying a woman about to give birth pounding down the central street of Rostov-upon-Don. Julia’s story represents a surrogate image of the tragedy and humour in Russian history.