Summary
- The documentary highlights Ukrainian artists remaining defiant in the face of the Russian invasion through their art and culture.
- Some fascinating subject interviews reveal the attempt to erase Ukrainian culture by Russia.
- Rule of Two Walls
challenges viewers to rethink the role of art during conflict, emphasizing the importance of cultural preservation.
As a film critic who spent my formative years in Eastern Europe, I found “Rule of Two Walls” to be a profound and poignant documentary that resonated deeply with me. Growing up amidst the remnants of the Soviet occupation, I understand the importance of cultural preservation during times of conflict. This film is a testament to the resilience of the human spirit, as it showcases the defiant creativity of Ukrainian artists in the face of adversity.
From April through November in 2022, the Two Walls Rule chronicles the stories of artists who chose to remain in Ukraine amidst the Russian aggression. This documentary features a diverse range of individuals from musicians and filmmakers to street artists. The common theme among them is one of resistance. Although there are feelings of anger, sorrow, and complexity, they primarily express a desire to continue living and creating. Contrary to typical expectations for a war-themed documentary, Two Walls Rule focuses more on the realm of art than the continuous invasion. It mirrors its subjects’ resilience, pressing ahead with resolve.
The title refers to the safety practice of sheltering in hallways so that there are two walls between you and any potential blasts because so many people had given up going to official shelters. It’s a way of balancing safety and maintaining a level of normalcy, allowing you to stay in your own home as the subjects of this documentary have. To many viewers, it may seem counter-intuitive not to do everything possible to stay safe, which for many means fleeing the country. However, over the course of Rule of Two Walls‘ short runtime, these decisions start to make sense.
The Importance of Discomfort
Initially, it’s hard not to feel deeply uneasy while watching this documentary. The juxtaposition of scenes showing people casually interacting at an art installation with images of burning bodies creates a sense of discomfort and ambiguity. If such disturbing events are happening so nearby, it raises questions about the importance of art. Should we be celebrating or criticizing this as insensitive? However, the documentary doesn’t provide any immediate answers to these questions.
One intriguing feature of the Rule of Two Walls approach lies in its subtlety, as we rarely receive explicit explanations about the scenes depicted. Instead, stories are shared and discussions held on the impact of art within personal lives – especially during wartime. Consequently, disturbing images of destroyed bodies and homes often lack context, which can create unease due to the heavier emphasis placed on artistic interpretation rather than the immediate issues of war.
In this documentary, the role of art during conflict is presented in a way that’s not straightforward. While it provokes thought and invites self-reflection, it may not always align with the documentary’s purpose. The initial perspective might seem confusing or misleading, although it could be intentional. If unintentional, we might initially follow a path that doesn’t lead us where we expect.
A Stand-Out Interview Clarifies the Russian Invasion
As the documentary progresses, its main idea becomes more distinct around midway through, largely due to an intriguing interview with an anonymous artist. This artist elucidates thought-provoking insights on art, religion, and culture in a captivating manner. She eloquently illustrates the link between Putin’s invasion of Ukraine and culture, stating “When Putin claims we have no culture, he is saying we have no nation,” as she explains, “Culture represents the actions and creations of a people.” Furthermore, she adds:
War may attempt to strip us of our cultural heritage and traditions, but it cannot succeed. In fact, many individuals rediscover and embrace their traditions during challenging times… To me, the crafting of Easter decorations holds a stronger cultural connection than religious significance.
It’s evident that, through her speech, it’s made clear that Russia’s invasion of Ukraine isn’t solely about territory but an attempt to obliterate Ukrainian identity. Consequently, artists producing art amidst this chaos serves as a powerful form of resistance. In essence, the film Rule of Two Walls shifts from being primarily about the war itself and transforms into a portrayal of artistic creation, thereby preserving culture. Even though physical structures may be reduced to rubble by bombs, artists are constructing their nation anew, through art.
Putin Proves Himself Wrong
Afterward, we spent some time working with a woman who was refurbishing the inside of a building that had been plastered with chalk to hide decorations and ornaments during Soviet control. This part is enlightening because it highlights a continuous thread in Ukraine’s history of occupation and the suppression of its culture, both past and present. The growth of Russian territory often involves the demolition of another culture, regardless of whether Putin acknowledges it or not (similar to Israel’s expansion).
Extra footage depicts an art museum with bare walls and large crowds using sandbags to shield monuments from potential explosions – actions taken for protection but also indicative of the impact on art and tradition that war is causing. These scenes serve to provide a new perspective on earlier ones, which showcased exhibitions, making them seem almost inappropriate given the number of fatalities. Instead of mere social events, these gatherings represented acts of defiance against efforts to erase their cultural identity.
Ultimately, Rule of Two Walls proves that Putin’s words act as a sort of self-fulfilling prophecy. How can he declare that Ukrainian culture does not exist when he is actively targeting it? Similarly, the very act of making a documentary bolsters the artists of Ukraine, and it would have done so even if it were not about them. This is a powerful and important piece of work even if the majority of its message is conveyed in a couple of short segments, with the rest not adding a great deal. When the mission here is to preserve and uplift the artists of a country who are under fire, it’s hard to argue that anyone should be cut out.
The “Rule of Two Walls” film is set to debut at DCTV’s Firehouse Cinema in New York on August 16, with further releases planned afterwards. You can expect to find it on various digital platforms starting from November.
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2024-08-16 04:01