Movie No. 188 (2013): IN THE FOG
In The Fog (2012)
Director: Sergei Loznitsa
Cast: Vladimir Svirski, Vlad Abashin, Sergei Kolesov
In Russian, with English subtitles
The titular "fog" is mostly metaphorical, i.e., the fog of war affecting the lives of the people in a small Belarus town. But it can also be literal in the way it is presented in some important scenes to obscure things that the people of the town (and the audience watching the movie) should see. The film centers on three men, all members of a resistance group against the German occupation of Belarus. Sushenya is accused of being a traitor after he's freed by the Germans while the others who were arrested with him, on accusation of sabotaging the railways, were hanged. Now branded as a traitor, he patiently awaits in his house for comrades in the resistance group to bring him notice of execution as punishment for traitors. Burov, Sushenya's long time friend, and another man appear in his house to materialize his punishment. But something unexpected happens instead, which will stall the execution. Then we get to know some back stories of these three characters that should make us understand how they end up in the foggy forest.
Director: Sergei Loznitsa
Cast: Vladimir Svirski, Vlad Abashin, Sergei Kolesov
In Russian, with English subtitles
The titular "fog" is mostly metaphorical, i.e., the fog of war affecting the lives of the people in a small Belarus town. But it can also be literal in the way it is presented in some important scenes to obscure things that the people of the town (and the audience watching the movie) should see. The film centers on three men, all members of a resistance group against the German occupation of Belarus. Sushenya is accused of being a traitor after he's freed by the Germans while the others who were arrested with him, on accusation of sabotaging the railways, were hanged. Now branded as a traitor, he patiently awaits in his house for comrades in the resistance group to bring him notice of execution as punishment for traitors. Burov, Sushenya's long time friend, and another man appear in his house to materialize his punishment. But something unexpected happens instead, which will stall the execution. Then we get to know some back stories of these three characters that should make us understand how they end up in the foggy forest.
Admirable camera works, particularly on some scenes shot using hand-held camera to make a point, are well placed. The cinematography sharply captures the milieu of 1942 Belarus during the inclusive period considered in the story. It's a clever decision to use thick fog to created suspense in the last minute of the movie. The narrative, though far from being original, is written the way it's expected to be written. While the movie is serious through and through, without any tinge of humor and hope in it, watching it is one that's worth my time.
Rating: 4.0/4.0
Date seen: November 2, 2013
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