In the far north of Russia, a former mining town has seen better days. Director Natalija Yefimkina allows us to experience the soulful longings and enterprising ways of the (mostly) men who spend more time in their garage sanctuaries than in their apartment-block homes. With gorgeous cinematography, an observational lens sweeps the postindustrial landscape and finds beauty in the run-down, seemingly deserted expanse of rusted-out, ramshackle garage structures. The stories of the garage denizens unfold slowly, and we gradually become acclimated to the men’s rhythms and routines. When we are allowed inside, their interior spaces and private dreams come alive: gentle Sergei, who can fix anything; Pavel, the world-weary icon maker; Viktor, who has spent a lifetime digging down multiple levels by hand; the young rock and roll hopefuls; a pair of scrap-metal scavengers; romantic Roman, the chicken entrepreneur. The quirky characters come and go, the seasons change, and by the end of the film a tragicomic pageant of life has been laid before us.  DP