2022 BERLIN INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
Masha (Victoriya Romanova) is a teenage girl living in Almaty, Kazakhstan. She hangs around with individuals who aren’t the greatest of influences, and she often finds herself in less-than-ideal situations surrounded by drugs, sex, and alcohol. Scheme is Masha’s journey toward sobriety in a number of ways, her parents’ attempts to save their daughter, and the world’s opportunity to see the harrowing reality of being a teenager in today’s climate. With so much to dissect, Scheme is a story for the ages.
The opening scene–subtle, quiet, with little in terms of visual expertise (just simplicity at its finest). However, in that opening scene viewers hear an American news reporter speaking on the television–which, considering Scheme originated in Kazakhstan, is a strange tidbit regarding this scene. As that reporter continues to talk, however, the name Jeffrey Epstein is mentioned. The world knows this name, and they know what he’s associated with–and this sets the tone for Scheme in its entirety. This is a wonderful choice made by writer-director Farkhat Sharipov. There are moments throughout the film in which I wasn’t entirely sure what the purpose of the film was. Are we talking about rape, drug abuse, or something else entirely? That introductory scene clarifies for viewers, and everyone knows what to expect from Sharipov’s film as a result.
There is one scene in particular that stands out to me. As Masha rinses the color from her hair in the shower, the darkness that has consumed her throughout the entirety of Scheme seems to wash away with her (to a degree). The scene in question is incredibly simple, and it doesn’t require too much work in terms of cinematography or acting, but the writing for this scene is the best of the entire film. Sharipov finds a balance between beauty and horror throughout the film, but this scene is the epitome of what he’s capable of. Ultimately, this scene is representative of all that Scheme does cinematically. It’s accurate, honest, and vigorously attentive to cinematic detail.
With everything that goes into the production of Scheme, it seems that it’s Sharipov, and all that he brings to the table, that affords the film success. Sure, the film as a whole feels a tad scattered, and it maybe loses its footing every now and again–but Sharipov has a fair understanding of what needs to be done to make a successful film. It’s the decisions that he makes that allow Scheme to find success, even if everything isn’t perfect along the way.
There are times when Scheme feels a bit convoluted with the constant twists and turns of the narrative, but by the end of the film, things appear to have leveled out nicely. Again, while not everything that Sharipov does is gold, he finds ways to make his story and his overall vision work. Scheme is an eye-opening venture into the dark world of adolescence, and the people who prey on the young. Beyond the narrative exists a world of relevance, and Scheme hits the nail on the head here.
Written & Directed by Farkhat Sharipov.
Starring Victoriya Romanova, Tair Svintsov, Diana Bulatova, Yan Tomingas, Evgeniya Ksenaki, etc.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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