As the western civilization makes tremendous progress towards gay marriages and LGBTQ rights, Russia is one of the few countries trying to reverse that trend.

In a shocking and controversial documentary, A Worm in the Heart is a covered exploration on LGBTQ+ rights from filmmaker Paul Rice. Both the government and community are headstrong against LGBTQ+ rights and sometimes violent against those persons.

A Worm in the Heart details the extraordinary lives and brave stories of the diverse LGBTQ+ communities across Russia. Shot in six cities along the Trans-Siberian railway and utilizing intimate interviews about the current Russian life, this documentary features deeply personal and moving accounts from activists and non-activists alike. The film follows Paul Rice and Liam Jackson Montgomery, a gay couple from Ireland and Wales, as they meet with the many heroic members of the LGBTQ+ community who risk their lives living authentically under oppressive laws and prejudices – from Nobel Peace prize nominees and international activists to drag queen performers thriving in remote Siberia.

LRM Online spoke on the phone with director Paul Rice about his experiences, filming undercover and the rights of LGBTQ+.

A Worm in the Heart is premiering at the Santa Barbara International Film Festival today.

Please listen to the audio interview below. The article will be updated in print format at a later date.

Source: LRM Online Exclusive