During the Soviet era, organized nudism was largely suppressed or confined to highly remote, unregulated beaches in the Black Sea region. Following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, an influx of Western ideals allowed local subcultures to organize more openly.
You can find further technical details and cast credits for the film on its Russian social documentaries from the early 2000s or learn more about the cultural history of St. Petersburg during that time? Baltic Sun at St Petersburg (Short 2003) - IMDb
Years later, when Sasha had grey at his temples and the studio had moved twice, he would sit by the window and look at that yellowing photograph of Misha on the ferry. Sometimes he thought the real subject of their film had not been the Baltic at all, but the way light finds what is hidden—how a small, persistent beam can catch on a scab of memory and, bit by careful bit, make it whole again.
The documentary centers on intimate interviews with Russian naturists, exploring their personal journeys into the lifestyle. Key themes explored in the film include: The "Coming Out" Process