Michael Borodin Talks Shop About His Berlin Pic ‘Convenience Store’

variety.com:

Alissa Simon Film CriticUzbekistan-born Michael Borodin makes a searing feature debut with the Russia-Turkey-Slovenia co-production “Convenience Store,” a story of modern slavery in Moscow, taking places under the noses of thousands of indifferent witnesses.

Demonstrating his interest in pressing social issues, Borodin’s Berlinale Panorama selection was inspired by his personal experience as an illegal immigrant to Russia and the 2012 case of the “Golyanovo slaves,” which is now making its way to the European Court of Human Rights.Developed through the Next Step program of Cannes’ Critics’ Week and other co-production markets, the film, like the case of the Golyanovo slaves, centers on citizens of the former Soviet Republics, who are illegal migrants to Moscow and forced to work long hours, unpaid, in 24/7 convenience shops, without being able to leave the premises.

Their documents are taken away and they experience physical and sexual violence. “I would be happy if the film had a positive influence on the lives of migrant workers, but I realize that there is little chance for this,” Borodin says. “If you want to change something, you must adjust the political situation, the society’s and the government’s attitude toward the problem.

I think that is a very difficult and slow process. I believe that only political will can really change something.”Nevertheless, he thinks bringing awareness to the problem is important. “If even a single person in the audience stops to think about the issues we bring up in the film, that would already be great,” he says.