Mothers of Life

The Nenets are a breed of people who lead a nomadic life in north western Siberia. The Yaptik family, who from part of this hardy breed, are the central focus of Mothers of Life.They are a family who have suffered great hardships. All but one of the male members of their clan have died, but their presence looms over the lives of the remaining females, who refer obliquely to them as “the ones who have gone away” or “the ones who will not come back”. When shooting, the two directors spent six months living in the huts of the Nenets people and leading the same nomadic life as their subjects.