Donbass
Donbass
Donbass
Directed by:
Sergei LoznitsaScreenplay:
Sergei LoznitsaCinematography:
Oleg MutuCast:
Борис Каморзин, Valeriu Andriuta, Sergei Kolesov, Georgiy Deliev, Tamara Yatsenko, Lyudmila Smorodina, Valeriy AntonyukPlots(1)
Made long before the Russian invasion of 2022, Sergei Loznitsa’s anti-war film was initially billed as the darkest of black comedies, but now feels very different. After watching amateur videos online, Loznitsa constructed his own screenplay, referencing the format of TV reports and the frequent construction of ‘fake news’. Told in 13 chapters, it’s enthusiastically acted, often deliberately theatrical and grotesque. There is no attempt to ‘explain’ the film’s incidents which focus on the human reactions and prejudices underlying political extremes. The most disturbing scene finds a ‘traitor’ tied to a post, abused and beaten to death. It’s all brilliantly - if harrowingly - imagined, with stunning imagery courtesy of expert cinematographer Oleg Mutu. (British Film Institute (BFI))
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Reviews (2)
I admit to expecting something better. I was really looking forward to those Donbass shots. However, those shots are the only thing I got. The story doesn’t matter in the slightest, completely overshadowed by the military conflict. Plus the filmmaking is so terribly impersonal that it looks like a warzone documentary. A totally emotionless film, which is not to say it is not interesting. It is certainly informative enough.
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It all smacks a bit of propaganda, but I think that most of the situations depicted here are much nearer the truth than one might think. The film is shot in almost documentary form, which works to its advantage. Unfortunately, I couldn't identify with anyone. I was most sickened by the part where all the bystanders mobbed the Ukrainian soldier chained to the lamp post and took out their anger on him both verbally and physically. In short, one viewing is quite enough for me. (60%)
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Photo © Pyramide International
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