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A fast-moving impression of the turbulent rise and fall of Russian TV channel Dozhd. The name means “rain,” because its creator—the champagne-loving socialite Natasha Sindeeva—associates rain with freedom. Former business partner Vera Krichevskaya guides us through the story of Natasha and her wealthy husband Sasha. Through archive footage and interviews, we see the fairytale beginning, when Natasha saw her dream of an “optimistic channel” come true. But we also see how the state, under Vladimir Putin’s leadership, each year further tightens the thumbscrews on the free-spirited broadcaster.
Nevertheless, Dozhd grows to become a unique icon of independent political reporting. When the channel starts broadcasting via YouTube in 2019, viewing figures rise to the tens of millions. Meanwhile, Natasha’s dream-project has been classified by the government as a “foreign agent.” Despite her optimism and fighting spirit, she increasingly suffers from sleepless nights. The question arises: what should she do with this successful TV channel now that it is putting the lives of its staff in danger?
