The 2018 Israeli-Ukrainian film No-One, directed and written by Lev Prudkin and Vladimir Prudkin, brings to light the grimy, unclean party of Soviet society present in the global superpower shortly before the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Amidst the distress of a crumpling political system, in which some characters are directly involved, the film intertwines marital disloyalty with the inklings of political unrest. Produced in 2018, the film is eerily accurate at times, reflecting the sad reality that would, at times, turn out to be true in 2022, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
The film by itself is eerie, at times making the viewer uncomfortable with long pauses and stiff, awkward exchanges between characters. Given the circumstances of the plot and the setting, I believe this move was not only accurate but deliberate for the general feel of the movie. The directors did a fantastic job at reflecting the simmering distrust and discomfort planted within the hearts and minds of the average Soviet citizen, with concern on the horizon about the well-being and existence of the state, and of the lives of its citizens. Especially for the characters involved in politics, the presence of the unknown is almost like the Grim Reaper, present in most scenes, lurking in the background or seemingly creeping up behind the main characters, waiting to strike. In a way, this figurative Grim Reaper affects the viewer too, causing him or her to grow anxious, waiting for the scene to end, and thus relieve the built-up pressure and suspense caused by this relationship. The dim colors and often spotty light heighten this effect, this mood of death creeping around the corner, never completely out of sight. Even in sunny scenes, such as when the characters are seen on the beach, there is still a strong sense of distrust and stiffness. Again, I believe that this is a deliberate, as well as a smart move by the producer, as it really seals the deal on the discomfort the characters feel given their situation.
At just under two hours long, this movie does drag on at times, and although the effects caused by this add a layer of depth to the situation, at times the movie is unnecessarily long. The opening scene, mainly an interaction between two of the main characters, Oleg Sergeyevich, General of the KGB and his nephew Vlad, holds importance to setting the stage for the rest of the film, although it seems excessively long.
In terms of production value, and of the quality of the picture during the scenes, I feel this film does exceptionally well. Dark angles and sharp contrasts create a stark scene in almost every part of the movie. Even when the sun is out, there is not significant stress present, the producers make the setting uncomfortable, almost inhabitable. In scenes where the viewer would traditionally expect something, for example a laugh or some form of communication, this film is silent, emotionless, and dim. In a way this is presumably realistic, especially in the Soviet Union during this time. In some sex scenes, the mood is barren of emotion, sometimes just showing two naked bodies after finishing to convey the meaning of what happened instead of showing. This causes a cold feeling, almost a shiver in the spine, to see how mechanical and robotic an act like this can be when done amidst sad circumstances.
Despite the ending becoming predictable after watching about half of the movie, due to the general tone and mood of the plot up to that point, the ending still manages to emit an additional groan of pain. Like a Shakespearean comedy ending, the characters appear to get what they deserved for all of their desperate, fleeting attempts to find meaning and purpose in their crumbling life and country. In a film where power is taken rather than given, the main characters of the plot find that their happiness, it seems, cannot be taken. Despite all of their attempts to find meaning through lust, deception, and disloyalty, they all, for the most part, meet the same fate.
Interesting, longish, and thought-provoking, I enjoyed this unique and eerily-accurate movie. Although the length and boredom of some scenes detract from the overall score, the honest and wonderful camera work made this movie worth the watch. 7/10.
