Stand (2014)

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After taking a wrong turn in their car, a young gay Russian couple witnesses what they be- lieve is a vicious gay bashing; their quandary lover what to do about it propels them-and this suspenseful drama-into ever more dan- gerous territory. The slow-burning film is high- ly topical, given the intense worldwide outrage over Russias mistreatment of gays and the countrys 2013 federal law prohibiting homo- sexual "propaganda." Anton and Vlad make a handsome pair, sharing a loving and natural chemistry in the comfortable privacy of their Moscow apartment. For Anton, the burden of what they may have witnessed outweighs Vlads fear of probing too deeply into the inci- dent. Convinced of the polices indifference- recent events make this a terrifyingly plausible scenario-Anton talks his skeptical lover into launching their own amateur investigation into the hate crime. Their risky search for the truth has unexpected and grim consequences.