“Likens - The Story” by Arseny Kuznetsov
This is a story about two brothers enjoying summer days. They work part-time at a junkyard, go swimming, play basketball, and run across rooftops. The younger brother tries not to fall behind his older sibling — he starts hanging out with his brother's friends, smokes and drinks for the first time, and even falls in love. But she likes someone else — the older brother. This breaks the younger brother's heart.
During a pretend wedding on the rooftop, he shows up to settle things once and for all. At that moment, reality splits into two paths. In one, he forgives his brother and makes peace, and the story ends on a positive note. In the other — a distorted reality — he starts a fight and accidentally pushes his brother off the roof, killing him.
The viewer gets to choose the story’s ending, but overall, I see this as a story about forgiveness.
DIRECTOR’S STATEMENT
“This music video is an ode to youth and carefree times. I’ve long wanted to create a story about "that one summer" and decided to bring it to life while working on a video for Likens. The music evokes this mood—it carries a sense of freedom and lightness. It’s also a tribute to my hometown, Kazan, and specifically the "Kvartala" district.
I wanted to tell a heartfelt story about forgiveness and acceptance. At the same time, I decided to mask it with an open-ended finale, giving the audience an interactive opportunity to choose their own ending to the story.
We traveled all over the city, searching for “non-postcard” and authentic locations to capture the spirit of "timelessness" (or at least take us back to 2007). It was a special era, already steeped in nostalgia.
The casting process was long and meticulous, but in the end, I feel like I found the perfect candidates—the chemistry between the characters on screen feels almost real.”
-Arseny Kuznetsov
Credits
Written and directed by Arseny Kuznetsov/ @arsenysmith
Director of photography// Nikita Goroshkov/ @_goroshkoff_
For/ @likensband
Starring
Yan Serebrennikov/ @craazy_creative
Yaroslav Kats/ @yariiique
Maria Kurakina/ @kurazhka_
Executive Producer// Polina Martyanova @martyan.p
Creative Producer// Alexander Shagulin @shagulin
Line Producer// Gleb Ladovich @marme_ladovich
Production Designers
Elizaveta Yeliseeva @liza__zazaza
Stefan Romanov @romanov_17_
Assistant Production Designers// Timur Timergaliev @timurtimergaleev
Anet Akbirova @ann_akb
Rental/ @fotozoomkazan
1AC// Aliya Zainullina/ @vs_alia
Focus Puller// Ekaterina Maltseva/ @katyattenborough
Gaffer// Valery Ivanov/ @invk222
Colorist// Sergey Gurov/ @gurovsh
Fight Scene Choreographer// Ilnur Garifullin/ @ilnur_garifulla
Artist// Daria Rodchenko/ @indementa
Makeup Artist// Albina Zaripova/ @zaripova_albina_
Backstage// Nikita Ilyichev/ @streetartfilm
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