Hands That Restore the World

They are changing the world around them. People working to bring the cultural heritage of their ancestors back to life lie at the heart of this film.

Farid Nabiullin spent years traveling to remote villages in Tatarstan in search of horses with distinctive white manes – the last of a rare breed known as ‘celestial golden horses’. Having nearly disappeared during the Soviet era, the breed has now been revived. Today, these horses are used in traditional sporting contests: riders tame spirited mounts in the Tai Tulak challenge and test their skill in horseback archery.

Zaur Tsokholov returned to his native mountain village of Chokh in Dagestan, determined to save it from fading into oblivion. With his own funds, he restored a ruined 19th-century building and opened the area’s first guesthouse. His initiative inspired fellow villagers to follow his lead, and Chokh has since become a destination for travelers from all over Russia.

Young sailors at the Pallada children’s sailing club in the Mari El Republic build boats under the guidance of retired officer Andrey Zheludkin. In 2025 they recreated a historic vessel – a replica of an ancient Russian ushkuy – that became one of the highlights of the People’s Boat Festival in Sviyazhsk.

The Kumandin people – a small indigenous community in Altai – have revived an ancient festival known as Kocha-kan. According to tradition, the god of fertility descends from the heavens on this day to bless people and ensure the continuation of their lineage. The Kumandins believe that, as long as their traditions endure, their people have a future.

Watch “Hands That Restore the World” on RTD website and on RT’s live feed. The time of the broadcast is available on RT’s schedule page.