Sakura Hotel

We arrive in Ulan-Ude, at the exact time the city is celebrating itself. There's quite a difference between the restaurant mentioned in the 'Lonely Planet' (the only one of the city according to the travel guide) and the dozens we come across on our way to the hotel! Located in a very typical Soviet building, the hotel Sakura – we are really entering Asia now – is eventually a very pleasant place, where we can even cook ourselves.

This evening and the next one, we all gather to screen each others' material. For today, the groups making documentaries about 'children', 'Lenin', and 'music' are scheduled. Showing your material to others is always a critical moment. It could be very helpful, but also confusing and harmful. To what extent should you take into account what others say on your film in progress? And to what extent should you keep on your own way? Tonight discussions are pretty vivid and usually constructive, but most of the people are not so attentive to the way they formulate their thoughts and critics. On the other hand, some directors have a lot of difficulties to accept what they are advised, even though similar feedbacks are coming from many different people.