The intoxicating abandon fueled by alcohol is something many filmmakers have tried to capture on-screen. Recreating the thrill that comes with of a total loss of inhibitions is no easy task though, push it too far in one direction and it easily becomes a parody just for laughs. Serving-up one of the most authentic feeling night on the tiles I think I’ve ever witnessed on film, Ruslan Bratov’s Lalay-Balalay (MERRY-GO-ROUND) invites its audience to spend an evening with a restaurant owner and three of his employees, as they search for some alcohol-induced comfort to mark the end of an era.

A real favourite on the festival circuit, MERRY-GO-ROUND is the relatable tale of what can happen when a stupid, drunken idea quickly gets out-of-hand. Following Oleg Maratovich and three of his colleagues as their inebriated escapades lead them on a quest across town to the titular carousel, at first, you shudder at the realisation of this terrible idea, but in the end, like the characters in Bratov’s film, you hold on tight and ride it out. The effect is disorientingly funny, you really feel for those poor trapped employees, but can’t help laugh at their caged plight.

Apparently based on a real city legend that lead to authorities demolishing similar structures, MERRY-GO-ROUND’s success lies in its ability to completely immerse its audience in the drunken adventures of its foolish quartet. Though some of the success in this regard can be attributed to the committed performances of its cast, the film truly succeeds in transporting you into its drunken daze with its clever production.

Opening with an almost staggering hand-held shot, pointed at the barrel chest of lead protagonist Maratovich, as he disrobes and orders us to follow him we’re instantly made to feel part of his chaotic crew and left in no doubt of their current state. The intoxicated feeling of the hand-held camerawork carries over into the next shot, as we stumble down the street behind our determined leader as he attempts to cross the road. However, as we cut to a view inside a car, waiting for Maratovich to caterpillar crawl from curb to curb, the camera becomes locked-off and steady, instantly changing the mood and creating a sobering effect.

This wobbling perspective resumes as we make our way to the titular ride, with the camera only pausing long enough to capture the gleeful grins of Maratovich’s colleagues as they share in the potent spirit of camaraderie whipped up by what is about to unravel. As we climb aboard the ride the playful camerawork abruptly comes to an end and instead we’re locked in place, trapped on the ride with our unfortunate fun-seekers. Once again, it has a sobering effect, clever contrasting the freewheeling feel of the film’s opening and letting us know what we’re in for with the remainder of the short – it’s just like that surreal moment on a hedonistic night-out when you suddenly realise you’ve gone too far and the fun is over.

A darkly comedic, authentic feeling short, MERRY-GO-ROUND was a popular pick with programmers, playing at some of the biggest film festivals worldwide, before debuting online as Vimeo Staff Pick Premiere. Be warned though…it’s such an intoxicating watch, you might want to refrain from handling heavy machinery after watching.