How to Survive Autumn is a film short (25 minutes) about an astonishing woman – Ksenia Smith, an artist, writer and actress. An extraordinary individual, talented and independent, Ksenia has, since birth, lived with spastic quadriplegic cerebral palsy. This has not hindered her in any way from developing her creative talents. She lives by the artistic credo of “Spirit is stronger than four walls.”

Exuberant and wise, Ksenia inspires friends and colleagues with her work ethic and her approach to life. Ksenia lost both parents to the COVID pandemic. They had raised her to love and respect the fruits of labor, and to be independent in all things. Thanks to her mother and father, Ksenia never doubted she could do anything she wanted. Every day of her life Ksenia stands as proof of what a human being is capable of, as long as one maintains a healthy soul, shirks indifference, and radiates love, while always fighting for one’s ideals.

Is this not a true heroine of our time?

How to Survive Autumn is the second film-poem in Oksana Mysina’s Cherry Orchard. War project. Like virtually everything Mysina does, Autumn is a hybrid work that weaves back and forth between documentary and performative styles.

Ksenia Smith plays the role of “Dasha,” a character who is mentioned, but never appears in Chekhov’s play.

Oleg Dulenin, one of the most unique actors of our time, takes on the role of “Simeonov-Pishchik.”

Sergei Kuchmenko not only improvized on his keyboard as the film was being shot, but also takes on the role of “Firs,” who has a special place in his heart for Dashenka.

The cinematographer Alexander Kochubei is the heart of this team, a genuine source of inspiration, and a master of all trades.
Oksana Mysina directed and edited the film.

How to Survive Autumn brings together a small core team, without which Free Flight Films would not exist.

It is impossible to imagine Oksana Mysina’s films without the music of Sergei Kuchmenko. He is one of Oksana’s most trusted co-authors.

Alexander Kochubei, an actor, director, and editor, introduced Oksana to the art of film editing, and starred in one of her first film shorts, Ivan Petrovich.

Oleg Dulenin previously gave a brilliant performance in Oksana’s film Voices of the New Belarus, based on Andrei Kureichik’s script about human rights abuses in his homeland of Belarus.

Ksenia Smith’s performance is her debut in a Free Flight Films project.

The film is in Russian with English subtitles.