The People Opposite (Romans Durs)

A foreign consul confronts fear, surveillance, and moral paralysis in Soviet-era Batumi.

From the moment he arrives in the remote Soviet port town of Batumi, the Turkish consul Adil Bey finds himself plunged into an atmosphere of isolation and intimidation. The old rules of diplomacy seem to mean nothing. His fellow consuls are dismissive, even hostile, while Soviet officials merely smile and delay. Even as crowds of hungry petitioners swarm the consulate, his every request seems to disappea...