Iya works at a hospital in Leningrad in the aftermath of WWII, doing what she can to alleviate soldiers’ pain while caring for a three-year-old. Suffering from bouts of paralysis due to her time on the frontline, Iya is beset by tragedy and her situation is further complicated by the return of fellow soldier Masha. Exquisitely staged with powerhouse performances from the leads, ‘Beanpole’ is a brutal and mesmerizing experience, akin to being run over by a train in slow-motion.