Demobbed

Three misfit young men—Rifle, a sly student who seduced his professor’s wife; Bomber, a blue-collar guy who somehow bought a factory; and Bullet, a gambler on the run from creditors—as they’re all swept up by military conscription. Thrown into the absurd world of the Russian army, where discipline is sacred and identity is stripped down to uniforms and ranks, the trio must navigate the bizarre rituals, surreal rules, and twisted hierarchy of service life. In a system where order is everything and chaos reigns beneath the surface, survival becomes the real test of manhood.

Demobbed quickly gained cult status in Russia for its absurd humor and surreal take on military life. It became a generational anthem for young men who had served—or were afraid to serve—in the Russian army.

Much of the film’s dialogue and bizarre scenarios are rooted in actual Russian army anecdotes, urban legends, and barracks folklore, giving it a strange authenticity wrapped in satire.

Most of the movie was shot on a real, decommissioned army base, which gave the surreal production design a gritty and authentic edge.

Demobbed helped pioneer a new wave of Russian “absurdist realism” in cinema, influencing a generation of filmmakers with its chaotic editing, deadpan delivery, and nonsensical but deeply symbolic plot structure.