Yuri Vella's World

A documentary about Yuri Vella, writer and social activist of the forest Nenets living in West-Siberia.

Yuri Vella left his home village ten years ago to lead the life of a raindeer herder in the taiga. The little unique world he created  was meant to offer protection from degeneration caused by alcoholism and unemployment that sadly poses a serious threat to the indigenous peoples of Siberia. To give his grandchildren proper education in their natural environment and teach them reindeer herding skills, he established an elementary school in his winter camp. Unfortunately, Yuri Vella's world is but an oasis of traditional lifestyle in one of the largest oil-producing regions of Russia.