In The Fog

I found the flashbacks a bit confusing at first but after the film was over it all seemed to fall into place to make a coherent narrative. A gripping story told with skill and compassion. And a film that I would probably not otherwise have got to see — the sort of film the society should be showing — and the reason why we need a platform for independent and foreign cinema in Wakefield.

We're used to tragedy as retribution for some previous wrongdoing. Macbeth and Lear and those ancient Greeks brought about their own downfall with their pride, envy, lust or whatever. But the haunting thing about this story is that Sushenya never did anything wrong. He even tried his best to dissuade the others from sabotage. I suppose we find some comfort or logic in the idea of calamity as just desserts for previous misdemeanours — if only Adam hadn't eaten that apple we'd all be in paradise. But the evidence is all around us — from genocidal tyrants to corporate swindlers and hubristic prime ministers — many die peacefully in their beds after long and comfortable lives.

What a bitter twist that the train that derailed was filled with a human cargo, presumably destined for the gas chambers. So the saboteurs saved the Nazis a job. And got their necks stretched for nothing

Now Burov supposed that if he'd executed Sushenya in the swampy ground instead of letting him choose his own grave site he'd still be alive — although he did later accuse Voitik of being a bad lookout. But his death was just another tragedy of war. Maybe if he'd stayed at home with his Mum — but wasn't she a nag?

Voitik had betrayed his comrades so I suppose you could say he got his just desserts. But what about that policeman? If anyone should have been made to suffer it was him. He probably got away scot-free. Probably got the Order of Lenin and ended up in the politburo. There really is no such thing as natural justice.

I think an onion would help the lard go down but I won't be trying it any time soon.

Audience feedback was 84%.

A	Gripping. Very, very sad. Interesting. Very believable.
A	Excellent but very, very grim.
A	Amazing film.
A	Wow! Totally suspended disbelief and evoked the reality of being occupied during war. Amazing images! Amazing actors – felt as though I was really there.
A	Gripping
A	Amazing acting but so grim.
A	So slow but gripping. Good portrayal of effects of war.
A
A	Atmospheric, life-like, outstanding. Conveys the reality of living in a war. Photography superb. I recommend “Come and See” (made in 1980s) by a Belarus director (forget his name). Similar – living in WW2 occupied Belarus. The director uses real bombs and ammunition – no short cuts there!
B	Excellent but slow.
B
B	SLOW MOVING. ABSORBING. SAD TO THINK HIS ONLY OPTION WAS DEATH.
B	Very good; very atmospheric.
B	DOUR BUT GOOD.
B	Unnecessarily slow. Excellent performances portraying the grim realities of conflict.
B	Thought provoking.
C	Rather slow throughout. Became quite interesting in the middle. Not the best of Russian films. Lingered on shots too long.
C	Very moving.
C	Slow but gripping.
C	One man's dilemma. No way out. War is always terrible.
C	A good storyline, well acted. Some good camera angles, a bit slow in parts but a good film.
U	Very dismal, but a complete contrast to American war films, probably much more true to life. (Or death)
U	A difficult film to watch. Well executed. I imagine the war in parts of Russia was much like that. The parallel with Christ and his final days was clear. It made its point very well – but I'm not sure I wanted to watch it.

Online stuff:
Rotten Tomatoes 61% audience rating:
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/v_tumane_2012/

IMDB 6.7 out of 10:
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt2325741/

Philip French in The Observer saw “echoes of Tolstoy and Dostoevsky”
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/apr/28/in-the-fog-review


Peter Bradshaw in The Guardian: “a haunting depiction of the hidden tragedies of war” (4 stars)
http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/apr/25/in-the-fog-review