Stand(2014)

Stand is a suspenseful drama following a young gay Russian couple who witness what appears to be a violent gay bashing. Torn between fear and moral obligation, Anton pushes his reluctant partner Vlad to investigate when police dismiss their account. Their amateur sleuthing into the incident spirals into increasingly dangerous territory, with consequences neither anticipated. The film explores the precarious position of LGBT people in Russia through a taut, darkening narrative that questions complicity and the cost of speaking up. What begins as a chance encounter becomes a harrowing examination of violence, indifference, and the risks of bearing witness.