Little Soldier

Cossachok, meaning "the little Cossack who would rather drink and socialise than fight", is a Russian cafe and restaurant located on Kings Street in Glasgow, on the fringes of the Trongate and Merchant City. Both a financial necessity and public front for the Russian Cultural Centre, Cossachok has been dedicated to imparting its country's idiosyncratic culture to Glaswegians since opening 1998. A major component of this sharing process is the Sunday Musical Evening, in which performers of all ages, styles and cultural backgrounds are given a stage and an audience on night notoriously difficult for attracting potential listeners. While it's self evident that the economic downturn has had a damaging effect across the dining industry, business at Cossachok has been particularly threatened: forced to be more selective with their spending, locals are unlikely to take the chance on an unfamiliar, foreign experience. In light of this, our documentary focuses on one of these Musical Evenings, the success of which is becoming increasingly important in ensuring that Cossachok is able to continue doing what it does best.