The Mark of Cain.

A documentary on Russian criminal tattoos.

     Having been interested in the cultural traditions of tattoos for a while, I found this documentary immensely interesting. It is filmed on location in several notorious and incredibly overcrowded prisons in Russia, involving interviews with guards and prisoners alike.

     The film documents the vast and complex visual code that was commonplace within the Russian penitentiaries up until the late 80's. Criminals during this time, would wear tattoos so that others could determine their rank within the prison. These would consist of tattoos signifying past crimes and the nature of their sentences, number of sentences (including time served for each), drug addictions and their outlook; such as a willingness to kill for pay and a disregard towards authority.

     This system of tattoos reflected an undertone of honour amongst the convicts. For example should an inmate acquire a tattoo that he was undeserving of, he would be beaten and have it removed by cutting off the skin.

     Although tattoos and the system in which they are earned, applied and understood is the main focal point of the film, it also gives insight into the bleak lives that these men and women are forced to lead. The way in which interviews are conducted and the unbiased approach to the information that is presented has a poignancy that resonates so fervently that you are left with a sense of unanticipated empathy, and indeed even respect, for some of Russia's most violent and hardened outlaws.