Svideteli

I'm not joking. I saw this at the Russian Film Festival in Brisbane. The synopsis read "The film tells about the history of the Holocaust through the stories of its unwitting Witnesses." What a load of bollocks. It's a woman dancing around to music, shot from a low angle so you can only see her feet. No dialog. No faces. Just feet. Seriously this sort of garbage should come with a warning.

First became aware of film by noticing information about the second section, brute, which is about a German Shepherd dog taken from his Jewess owner as a puppy and turned into a concentration guard dog by the Nazis . Finally connected Brute with the tree part film and watched from the beginning.

The first section " Shoes " is a cleverly photographed and directed piece about a woman who gets to own a pair of bright red shoes , how she got them and what happens to her.

Second sections deals with the grown up dog. Third section ties together some loose ends.

First section is very good tho it needs to be seen with Brute which is powerful to be appreciated.

Last section is weak.. Best for human to human and human / animal relationships of first two stories would have been a 9 with a strong final act.

The film "Shoes" (part of Witnesses) is absolutely fascinating and metaphorical. The Director ingeniously employs the use of foot movements and the absence of voices to portray the tragedy of the Holocaust in a unique way. The faces of the characters always serve as a personalisation, allowing us to identify with the protagonist. Moreover, the symbolic function of feet, as a representation of vertical stability and a symbol of strength and resilience in one's surroundings, enhances the artistic depth of the film. The feet replace the individual, embodying vitality and autonomy in their actions and decisions. This infusion of cultural meanings adds an exquisite layer of artistry to the film, making it truly remarkable.

Shoah remains a delicate generous subject. Because its tragedy inspired but, in so many cases, remains only suggested by the images and stories and testimonies. "Svideteli" is different. Maybe, the fair word is wisdom . It not gives a story, the Story. But pieces for give coherence by its public to the profound tragedy. Ordinary pieces, anonymous lives, radical changes. The cinematography is the key. And the inspiration to not be a manifesto only sketch of something escaping to words, becoming, scene by scene, in admirable way, almost a personal story as embroidery of confessions.