This documentary succeeds in transporting me to the other side of the world, and into the vast forests of Russia where ancient pagan rites are being performed for the first time in centuries. The reporter builds scenes with sound, music, and actualities spoken in unfamiliar and exotic languages. The rituals are examined from within?with voices of participants and religious leaders, and from the outside?by folklorists and historians. The reporter?s narration is straightforward and informational, and it does get overly ?ethnographic? at times. He attends three different rites, and sets each of them up in a similar fashion; for variety it would have been nice to try a different approach with each example. The return of these pagan rites is controversial, and the reporter handles the controversy well?although fairly late in the piece. Despite this, and the occasional uninspired voice-over translation, this piece is an enjoyable and worthwhile journey.