We first meet Irina (Vita Smachelyuk), a Ukrainian applying for Czech citizenship, as she is rushing back to the Czech Republic because she has learned that her 14-year-old son, promising gymnast Igor (Gleb Kuchuk), has been badly injured after being assaulted by three Roma (Gypsy) boys. When she reaches the hospital, Igor is in such bad shape that he can barely talk. Even the investigating police decide to wait before interrogating him. Igor needs a kidney transplant, and the doctors say he should never perform gymnastics again.
Irina, who has already been in conflict with a Roma family that lives above her, is approached by a former gymnast and others who want to hold a benefit in Igor’s honor—a rally followed by a march to the apartment building where the beating took place. Irina gives a television interview supporting the demonstration.
But there’s a problem. Left alone with his mother, Igor reveals that there was no assault. In reality, he was trying to impress his girlfriend by hanging from a rail. He lost his grip and fell.
Irina is shocked. But the attack by Roma boys, one of whom has already been arrested, is still a good story. The city mayor, in an attempt to use the incident for political advantage, offers Irina and Igor a new, much-better apartment and gives her a check for a sizable amount that will also allow Irina and her best friend to open a beauty salon. The attack story also helps Irina and Igor’s case for citizenship. So Irina and Igor (and Irina’s friend) decide to hide the real story and go with the false but popular version. Irina even confronts Igor’s girlfriend and intimidates her into shutting up.
Inevitably, Irina and Igor are forced to make a moral decision to tell the truth or stick with the lie.
Victim (Obet) is directed by Michal Blasko, based on a script by Jakub Medvecký.
