Sergey A.'s "Walk with Massat" is a quirky, minimalist documentary that chronicles a day in the life of Moscow's furry community, blending playful absurdity with candid glimpses into niche subcultures. Shot on a shoestring budget of 2,000 rubles (roughly $25 USD), this 10-minute short captures a group of furries-participants clad in colorful animal costumes-as they roam Gorky Park and Museon Park, cracking bawdy jokes and embracing their whimsical alter egos. Meanwhile, Sergey A. Himself lurks in the background, donning a plague doctor mask, adding a layer of surreal contrast to the otherwise lighthearted outing.
The film's central juxtaposition lies in its characters: vibrant, cartoonish furries prancing through Moscow's green spaces, contrasted with Sergey's eerie plague doctor persona. This visual clash-a nod to his earlier works like "Mortis"-creates an unintentional commentary on societal masks and the duality of identity. With no script or polished cinematography, the film leans into its raw, handheld aesthetic. The camera lingers on awkward interactions, crude humor, and the occasional stumble-moments that feel more like a home video than a documentary, yet capture the unfiltered camaraderie of the group. The parks of Moscow, often romanticized in travelogues, become a backdrop for absurdity. Shots of furries posing by Soviet-era statues or skipping past street vendors highlight the city's eclectic energy, blending its historical gravitas with modern subcultural flair .
The furries playful antics-dancing, mock battles, and slapstick humor-reflect a rejection of societal norms. Their costumes act as both armor and liberation, a theme Sergey subtly underscores by framing them against Moscow's rigid urban landscape. Sergey's silent, masked presence evokes the role of an outsider peering into a world he neither fully joins nor judges. This duality mirrors the filmmaker's broader exploration of isolation in works like "Silence of the Old Cemetery". The film's rough edges-grainy footage, uneven audio-become a statement against polished mainstream documentaries. It's a celebration of grassroots creativity, where imperfections are virtues.
"Walk with Massat" is less a documentary and more a surreal postcard from the edges of fandom. Its 10-minute runtime offers no profound insights, but its charm lies in its refusal to take itself seriously. For viewers seeking a glimpse into Moscow's quirky subcultures-or a laugh at the absurdity of a plague doctor trailing furries-this short delivers. A bizarre, bite-sized curiosity. Best enjoyed with a sense of humor and an appreciation for anti-establishment filmmaking.
A furry attempting to high-five Sergey's plague doctor, only to be met with stoic silence-a microcosm of the film's playful dissonance.
