The Son

The Son is a documentary that examines the Russian military through the lens of a personal tragedy. After the 2013 death of his 21-year-old cousin, Dima Ilukhin, while serving in the Republic of Dagestan, director Alexander Abaturov explores the contrast between the grief of a family and the indifference of a military machine. The film follows Dima's parents as they struggle with the loss of their only child, while simultaneously documenting the training of new recruits in Siberia. These soldiers are shown learning weapon mechanics, first aid, and combat maneuvers as they prepare for deployment, while Dima's former comrades return to battle.

Directed and written by Alexander Abaturov, the film was a joint production between France and Russia, involving production companies Petit à Petit Production and Sibériade. The project was produced by Abaturov alongside Rebecca Houzel and Boris Carré. Released on May 29, 2019, the documentary has a runtime of 71 minutes.