Anton Dolin's new book contains reflections on films made in the 21st century, but somehow talking about the past era. The author does not answer questions, but asks his own: why do directors still care about the themes of war, thaw, stagnation, dissidence, Stalinist repressions, space conquests, sports victories from the times of the USSR and secret crimes of power against the people? What are these - "mirages of the Soviet," the charm of imperial aesthetics? A desire to understand history or an attempt to break the connection with the recent past?