V Tumane

V TUMANE is based on a story by Soviet-era writer Vasil Bykau and set on the Western front, in territories occupied by the Germans during the summer of 1942. A man is wrongly accused of collaboration with the Germans after he is the only one from a group of men accused of sabotage to be released. How will he and his family cope with the sense of guilt? How does the war turn humans into beasts? How can they preserve their human dignity? These complex questions form the basis for a narrative that has already been tackled by such masters of Russian cinema as Larisa Shepitko. Yet visually Loznitsa’s film is cutting edge, moving the narrative almost onto the second level as human lives fade away – into the fog.
The director first gained recognition as a documentary filmmaker, and observation remains his prime concern in his live action films. After his début SCHASTYE MOYE (2010), V TUMANE continues his signature elements, such as the slow movement of a linear plot, which nevertheless opens unexpected doors, and the thematic preoccupation with violence. Loznitsa continues his collaboration with Oleg Mutu, the Romanian cinematographer who shot such outstanding works of the Romanian new wave movement as Cristi Puiu’s MOARTEA DOMNULUI LAZARESCU (2005), Cristian Mungiu’s 4 LUNI, 3 SAPTAMÂNI SI 2 ZILE (2007), and his recent DUPÃ DEALURI (2012).