A bitter con man and his estranged father are sent to a brutal labor camp in Soviet-era Russia, but they go to daring lengths to protect their interests, while also devising an escape amongst an island of con men.

SYNOPSIS:

The Con of Solovki is a period piece that centers around the infamous Solovetsky gulag and monastery, situated on a cold, bitter island in the white sea. The Russian, “Chateau d’If”. A study on the futility of party affiliation in the Soviet Union, the rise of Bolshevism and the fall of autonomy, religion, and artistic freedom. Set against a beautiful ancient monastery, my script explores the themes of survival of the fittest, comradery and forgiveness.

Synopsis:

The great ice march of 1918. Thousands of Russian civilians and white guard soldiers brave a treacherous retreat through freezing tundra. After mercy killing a civilian’s injured horse, a much younger Krischev stumbles on a frozen female civilian and moves her body off to the side.

Many years pass. Leningrad 1934. A sleek, slick con man Nikolai stakes out a cheating husband, pilfers his mistresses’ valuables and pawns them off. He distributes his earnings at various points around the city. Because Nikolai lives the life of a criminal his means are greater than most. During a card game Nikolai is caught cheating and chased right into the arms of the secret police.

He is arrested and brought to Shpalerny prison where he is unsuccessfully interrogated and kept awake for 3 days. Afterwards he is placed with his older father Krischev and 20 other prisoners in a cell. Nikolai is brought in front of a judge, accused of superfluous crimes and sentenced to 5 years hard labor at Solovetsky prison.

Nikolai, Krischev and the other prisoners are loaded onto a train and transported north-east. During the train ride Nikolai manages to make a new friend in Kazimir and two enemies, the brothers Rodya and Lev. The train arrives at the town of Arkhangelsk on the border of the White Sea. From there the prisoners are forced onto two separate sea vessels. During the boat ride Nikolai manages to befriend the brothers Rodya and Lev by convincing them of a common goal.

The Solovki monastery prison is spearheaded by a ruthless man named Ivan. Ivan greets the new prisoners with a colorful speech and an unusual punishment, forcing the prisoners to wade waist-deep in the freezing water. In a desperate bid to secure a jacket and proper boots, Nikolai bribes Ivan who points him in the direction of Kolya. Kolya and his band of misfits run the camp hierarchy. Nikolai is duped out of his own clothes by Kolya, but fortunately Rodya and Lev come to his rescue. Ivan chooses Kolya’s side and confines Nikolai to one of the prison towers.

Nikolai is released the following day. He is grateful to find his possessions returned, along with a spare pair of boots which he gives to Kazimir. One of Kolya’s misfits, the young Stanislav, respects Nikolai’s courage for standing up to his boss. Nikolai comes to learn the prison hierarchy and the main players, Kolya and Ivan. The prisoners are forced to hard labor and provided meagre rations. Nikolai is introduced to the repressed author Pavel and asks him for a favor.

Stanislav steals a valuable watch from under Ivan’s nose and plants it on his boss, Kolya. Ivan furiously turns on Kolya and his misfits. Kolya slowly digs his own grave as his rations are cut in half. We get a little more exposition on Nikolai and Krischev’s sour relationship. Nikolai, Krischev, Rodya, Lev, Kazimir and Pavel begin to devise an escape as Nikolai slowly gains dominion over the camp hierarchy, including Stanislav.

With Kolya on the verge of starvation, Krischev manages to illuminate Nikolai of his sinful methods. Nikolai sees the error of his ways and makes amends, granting Kolya a simple merciful gesture before death.

Time passes and winter begins to settle. Nikolai and his crew finalize their escape. On a day of rest and recuperation, Nikolai comes to forgive his father’s absence in his life. To uphold their way of life, Krischev had no choice but to abandon his family and fight for the White Army. Nikolai also comes to learn of his mother’s patriotism and zeal, having named him in honor of the Tsar.

Anticipating one last prisoner transfer before the White Sea freezes over, Nikolai bribes Ivan to spare his crew. Everything seems to be in order, until the day the boats arrive. Ivan, half of the old prisoners and all of the old guards are liquidated and forced onto the boats. Ivan takes the easy way out and commits suicide. Nikolai, Krischev and Kazimir are spared as Stanislav, Rodya, Lev and Pavel are forced onto the death boats. Kazimir manages to pull the young Stanislav out of line and takes his place. The boats depart and Rodya, Lev, Pavel and Kazimir are never seen again.

Krischev grows weaker by the day. Krischev is pushed too hard by a sadistic guard on work detail and succumbs to a spine injury. Krischev dies in his son’s arms before Nikolai proceeds to pummel the guard to death. Nikolai is contained and brought to an execution chamber where he is provided time to ruminate before his execution.

Nikolai is miraculously saved by Stanislav and they escape from Solovki by crossing the frozen White Sea. Triumphantly back on shore, they manage to make their way to Leningrad where Nikolai unearths his stash of stolen valuables.

Sverdlovsk 1943. Nikolai and Stanislav work the fields as Nikolai’s wife Alyona prepares supper. His children Nicholas II and Kristina play around their quaint home, nestled in the outskirts of Sverdlovsk. With a little bit of coaxing, Stanislav reluctantly shoves off in search of a new life and a companion. Nikolai’s past manages to catch up with him as the Red Army comes to pay him a visit. Nikolai is forced to say goodbye to his wife and children as they escape into the forest.

Nikolai finds himself back on a train in a red army uniform, surrounded by soldiers of varying age, background and ethnicity. A letter written by Stanislav miraculously reaches him through the post and Nikolai is relieved to learn his family is being cared for, and that Stanislav has taken a wife.

Nikolai endures a bloody and horrific push across the Volga at the battle of Stalingrad. Such as his father during the great ice march, Nikolai’s soul wanders through damnation. An icy, tundra-like landscape with frozen statues of Lev, Rodya, Pavel and Kazimir. Krischev’s statue leads the herd. Nikolai’s soul finds its way into the Solovki monastery where it lights a candle in front of the crucifix. Signifying that Nikolai’s soul is finally at rest