Siberia and Tokyo – distance, opportunities, money... That is exactly what hundreds of parents saw when they entered their young daughters to a modelling casting, where the people from “the West” decided which of the girls were suitable enough for the market in Tokyo and which of the skinny girls were “too fat” and “needed to go on a diet”. The promises made to those who made the cut were incredible – two jobs right away and minimum 8000 dollars. Promises! In reality...

There is nothing peculiar shown in MODEL GIRL – just dreaming big and trying to realize those dreams. But if you read between the lines you see that it’s also about giving up their childhood and gaining independence far too fast. It is also disturbing that it is said in the film that many of the girls who have “escaped” from Russia actually don’t understand the difference between modelling and prostitution. So if modelling fails on them, they might start to sell their body in another way.

This film will have the viewer emotionally hooked from the very beginning until the end of the titles.

Marc'Aurelio Award for best documentary in the Extra Section & EnelCuore Prize at Rome Film Festival.

Kristin Rammus

Project “Diversity Enriches”