2023 TRIBECA FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
The war in Ukraine has claimed more than three-hundred-and-fifty thousand lives–and it still rages on. With the country in peril, with no end in sight, a group of artists refuse to abandon their lives–and they act defiantly. Their goal is to defy the Russian government, to let them know that they won’t back down, and they are determined to hold steady in a world where nothing is guaranteed. Rule of Two Walls tells this true story through the eyes of those artists.
Rule of Two Walls forces viewers to ask the question “who cares?” From beginning to end this question plays a prominent role in how viewers see the film and whether or not they’re able to accept what they see on screen. I think you’d be hard pressed to find someone who doesn’t feel for the individuals on screen, who doesn’t appreciate the struggle that they are facing. These artists, along with everyone else in Ukraine, have faced an unprecedented amount of struggle over the course of the past year. Their lives have been turned upside down, their reality altered–and it may never go back to normal. Rule of Two Walls showcases this–and it’s these moments, the moments in which viewers see war, suffering, and death, that allow viewers to appreciate the sentiment behind the film.
While Rule of Two Walls focuses primarily on the artists, the inclusion of the real images of what is still occurring in Ukraine adds a dimension to the film. Again, viewers are forced to ask the question “who cares?,” so it’s important that Rule of Two Walls answers that question. By pairing the artists (and their art) with the footage of the war in Ukraine, it makes sense why viewers should care.
One might think that art would feel out of place in a theater of war–like war should and would far outshine the artists and their crafts, but Rule of Two Walls is developed in a way that allows the art (and its purpose) to be showcased where it makes sense to everyone. The score plays a massive role in how viewers receive the art and whether or not they accept this film as being valid. Again, while Rule of Two Walls answers viewers’ questions, the questions keep pouring in–and the score helps to showcase the artists in a way that often makes them feel larger than life. Backed by heavy-hitting music allows them to rise up, become bigger, and present viewers with a beautiful and accessible film.
Lighting, too, plays an important role in showcasing all that the artists are capable of, all that they contribute to the war in Ukraine and the people of Ukraine. Rule of Two Walls relies heavily on the ability of this filmmaking team to present the artists in the most flattering light–and they very literally do this from beginning to end. Paired with the astounding score, light often elevates these individuals (and sometimes the light even literally makes them look larger than life). The combination of the lighting and the score makes the actions of these artists feel bigger and better than they potentially could have–and Rule of Two Walls flourishes as a result.
Rule of Two Walls–the documentary that constantly forces viewers to ask questions, questions that could potentially discount the film. What Rule of Two Walls also does throughout is answer those questions, and express to viewers the importance of the artists’ work. The film is riveting and incredibly unique in a time and place when death and destruction reign supreme, and it finds ways to integrate joy and hope into the war in Ukraine.
Written & Directed by David Gutnik.
Starring Yana Mychko, Stepan Burban, Kinder Album, Bohdana Davydiuk, Diana Berg, Bob Basset, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐/10
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