Sunday, October 13, 2013
Lost
The circumstances of war come to envelop the lives of three men.
In Bello Russia, World War II, sides are taken, sabotage is conducted and lives are changed.
The central question seems to be whether people's character changes and, if so, what are the consequences. Or, conversely, what if people's character does not change? How do traumatic situations alter their lives.
These are the theme of the intimate film
Four trainmen are arrested for sabotage to what turns out to be a trainload of refugees.
Three are hung and the fourth, refusing to sign a collaboration agreement, is allowed to go free. But to what?
He is suspected in his own village for the collaboration anyway. Measures are to be taken and rebel enforcers, two of them, come to take him away.
One of the enforcers is a childhood friend.
The story is basically about these three men. What happens to them on the way to the execution becomes one of the "situations that change" caused by the war.
Through some flashbacks and some disruptions in the execution plan, the three men are placed on a different footing with each other.
How this affects each of them and the group together is the focus of the film.
While there are some other players, the entire film is about these three. Intimate.
Many issues are explored. Loyalty. Choice. Trust. Brotherhood.
Very good.
I would happily see it again sometime.
The visuals are extraordinary. The faces, the Russian countryside, woods. Birds.
Labels: films
