Under the Silent Valley

In the spring of 2001, in the corrupt, post-Soviet nation of Velgaria, young mother Maarika Lints faces relentless humiliation and systemic indifference while desperately seeking social welfare support. The architect of her suffering is Lidija Krutska, the notorious “Tiger of Subsidies,” who wields her power with cruel bias. Pushed to the breaking point, Maarika and her friends Kristel, Liina, and Reelika gather at an abandoned quarry. Fueled by desperation and frustration, Kristel impulsively suggests a drastic solution to their tormentor. Weeks later, Lidija is found near death after a hit-and-run, whispering a cryptic clue about the driver before falling into a coma.

The case lands on the desk of Investigator Niels Sarna, whose intuition immediately flags the friends’ synchronized behavior despite their flawless alibis. Sarna suspects Kristel but lacks proof, while Liina and Reelika maintain a chilling composure. His investigation leads him to a fleeting moment with Lidija in the hospital, yielding a final, ambiguous clue before her permanent descent into coma. Ultimately, the case is closed for lack of evidence, and the women escape legal consequence. Yet, the truth leaves them irrevocably marked: Kristel is plagued by nightmares, Liina and Reelika live in silent fear, and Maarika, though seemingly clean, carries the heavy, indirect burden of guilt. In Velgaria, revenge may bypass the law, but conscience proves an inescapable judge.