stigmw

A fantastic film, only based on people telling tales of their normal lives during abnormal times. And as the interviews are done with different brothers from the same family and same background it makes the similarities and differences even more interesting to hear about. It could so easily have ended up as a family love fest or backstabbing gossip party, but instead it all seems honest, straightforward and real, while keeping me as a viewer interested. Even though their stories are normal this is just what makes the experience of hearing them tell it all so much more informative and interesting. Essentially the film tells how much everyone are shaped by the times and the society around them during their upbringing, while also confirming how the weight of your family's traditions are being carried on by you.

The special quality of this documentary is it's factual consistency and cyclic rhythm. It is very evident that the director is doing his best to stay with the facts, illustrate them in an appropriate way, and get the right people to say what is on their mind, without pushing his personal opinion in your face. The film invites the viewer to take part in the filmmakers fact-finding trip. It is clearly divided into different but interlinked themes, and each of these chapters are built up in the same way: filmed on the road to wherever the action is taking place, introducing whoever is going to be interviewed and in the end adding a comment by the UN representative. This gave me a strong feeling of taking part in the process and not being just showed the edited mash-up of someone like Michael Moore. It might seem a bit slow and tedious, but it makes the people and settings so much more real, and makes me finally want to start buying those organically grown tomatoes and stop eating factory produced meats.