The Mainland

What it’s about

Marfa, a young mother in crisis, returns to the Pacific island where she grew up and where her father kept the lighthouse. Her son Timosha is with her. Soon her half-brother Ilya arrives, whom she has not seen for years, and then her husband Oleg. The island and the lighthouse are both a place of strength and a source of deep childhood trauma for Marfa. A mysterious whale appears off the coast, as if trying to tell her something. She must re-examine her past to prevent a tragedy in the present.

What hooks you

Yulia Trofimova directs Anastasia Kuimova as Marfa and Artyom Bystrov as Ilya. The film was shot on the Bruce Peninsula in Primorsky Krai and in Vladivostok, with a lighthouse built more than a century ago as the main location. It blends a picturesque thriller with elements of magical realism.

Who it’s for

It is worth a look for anyone who enjoys slow-burning tension, remote island settings, and stories where the supernatural hints at buried secrets.