Near the border between Russia and Mongolia, the nomadic Yulas tribe attempts to reach an altered state of consciousness by making strange, deep, frog-like croaks. Elderly people living by Lake Kitesh believe an enchanted city of angels exists beneath the frozen surface. In the dead of winter they crawl on all fours out onto dangerously thin ice in sub-zero temperatures, hoping to catch a glimpse of the wondrous domain. A self-proclaimed 'Grand Sorcerer of Russia' attempts the mass exorcism of a dozen high-spirited, 'possessed' women on a high school gymnasium stage, but it could just be the vodka talking.

Lighter in tone that most of his work, Herzog's Bells From The Deep is aptly subtitled, Faith And Superstition In Russia With the disintegration of the former Soviet empire, political and social upheaval, the population was ripe for a return to archaic forms of worship and a resurgence of faith in outlandish customs and beliefs. A humorous work with more sober undertones.