From March 1 to March 8, the Artdokfest documentary competition will probably be held in Riga. One of the vital noticeable works of this 12 months is Daniel Berger’s movie “Alien battle”. A local of Kyrgyzstan, Berger takes off the story of two households by which sons died: within the hope of acquiring Russian citizenship, they went to battle in Ukraine. Kinocritic Anton Dolin talks about this precious movie.
The inventive great thing about the pictures, with which the “alien battle” begins, present the Otar of sheep, crossing the postcard panorama. The principle theme of the movie means that you can interpret the picture fairly unequivocally: the obedient herd goes after the shepherd within the route that he’ll point out and least take into consideration the objectives. Sacrificial animals, slaughter. This forecast confirms a painfully lengthy scene in the midst of the movie, by which sheep is lower for a ritual solemn meal.
The movie doesn’t keep away from apparent metaphors, which, nevertheless, is sorry for the debut. This doesn’t forestall the image from making a robust and troublesome impression. Its invisible – apart from ceremonial pictures within the kind – the heroes are troopers born in Kyrgyzstan, who fought within the Russian military and died within the first months of invasion of Ukraine. And the “alien battle” is focused on the destiny of their mother and father.
“We stay slowly, however there is no such thing as a pleasure, some type of vacancy,” Father Rustam explains to the writer of the movie silent behind the scenes. The son was twenty years outdated when he enrolled within the military and went to the entrance within the hope of acquiring Russian citizenship. Twenty days later he was killed.
The void is visualized with medical accuracy. The daddy of the deceased walks aimlessly via the abandoned premises of the varsity in unclagid hours. It fills the vacuum, creating an actual altar of the reminiscence of his son. “Navy obligation”, “Honor and destiny”, “Keep in mind! Get proud! ” – Like spells, these obligation slogans on the iconostasis hung with portraits and medals. There isn’t any residing particular person on the display screen, even his ghost doesn’t seem, solely a barely noticeable hint – within the confused phrases of fogeys who drink tea at a richly set desk in opposition to a good looking carpet.
One other soldier, Egemberdi, as soon as repuls the impolite within the grocery store, his nephews recall. Aside from this truth, little is thought in regards to the deceased. A cup, donated as soon as to his mom, remained from him, and a cell phone that doesn’t activate and doesn’t cost, hack him and not less than couldn’t discover out one thing in regards to the proprietor. Egembertley managed to acquire Russian citizenship and was known as up instantly. 4 months later, he was compelled to signal a contract and despatched to the entrance, twelve days later he died there. Now the household cuts the ram and decides who will learn the Qur’an when the blood of the animal is pouring. The textual content of the prayer requires “protecting our land from wars and misfortunes.”
Berger doesn’t play analytics and generalizations. Nemota of individuals on the display screen – they don’t even attempt to discover appropriate phrases for what occurred, and due to this fact discover refuge in usually accepted stamps – extra eloquent than any feedback. Vacancy is the emotional heart of this movie about meaningless victims. Residents of the Kyrgyz hinterland are even doubtful comfort with pseudopatriotic rhetoric. Sure, Russian Goskanals nonetheless flash of their TVs, however largely entertaining, humorous exhibits.
The end result of the “Alien Conflict” is a visit of Father Rustam and Mom and Brother Egemberdi to Moscow, the place simply (the motion takes place in 2023), the Victory Day will probably be celebrated. Near Egemberti will participate within the procession of the Immortal Regiment, dissolving with out a hint within the column of the Bishkek and Kyrgyz Diocese, victims and contributors within the wars of previous and present. Rustam’s father will cherish the idea that he’ll wave to his kin from the TV from the Crimson Sq. itself, the place he’ll stand subsequent to Putin, however actuality will dispel his hopes.
A bitter continuation is additional entropy, the pure growth of on a regular basis tragedies, inconspicuous in opposition to the background of basic statistics. Nevertheless, not formally introduced: the titer on the display screen reviews that within the first six months within the battle with Ukraine, fifty troopers from Kyrgyzstan had been killed (Rustam and Egemberdi opened this record), after which the Ministry of Protection of the Russian Federation categorised knowledge on losses. One other spell uttered on the subsequent funeral will probably be heard within the closing: “Every thing will probably be nice.”
Movies in regards to the present battle within the fashionable Russian Federation, apart from propaganda materials, are virtually not shot, censorship makes itself felt. The “alien battle” made within the neighboring state Berger fills this hole.
