(The) 3 Rooms of Melancholia (Finland, 2004)


Figure 1.-- "The 3 Rooms of Melancholia" is a poweful film addressing the continuing Chechen conflict. It is addressed through the prisms of a Russian military boys academy, a war-torn town and a children's refugee camp.

The Finnish documentary, "The 3 Rooms of Melancholia", is a poweful, beautifully made, almost poetic film addressing the continuing Chechen conflict. While the film crew is Finnish and other Europeans, the film is about Russia. The film adresses how the dreadful conflict in Chechnya has affected children. The production is notable for its very limited dialog abd a musical score which works with the images rather than overwealming them. I am not sure just who the children are, but their performances are exceptional.

Filmology

The Russian film, "The 3 Rooms of Melancholia", is a poweful, beautifully made, almost poetic film addressing the continuing Chechen conflict. The film adresses how the dreadful conflict in Chechnya has affected children. The conlict is viewed through the prism of three children. The children are found at a Russian military boys academy, a war-torn town and a children's refugee camp. The production is notable for its very limited dialog abd a musical score which works with the images rather than overwealming them. The films has many lingering close-ups of children framed by scebes od devestation and foggy, dreary landscapes. The film has received many glowing reviews and awards.

Russian State Controls

Since President Putin has reexerted state control over the Russian media and film industry, trutful accounts of developments in Russia are no longer possible. The Russians now severely restrict the access of Western media. Some how Pirjo Honkasalo, a Finnish art-film directo, managed to get a film crew into Chechnya a film this stunning documentary. I'm not sure how Honkasalo did this, but doubt he will be doing many more documentaries in Russia.

Cast

This is a documentary. The children depicted on the film are the actual children being affected by unfolding event both Russian and Chechan children.

Plot

The devestation in Chechnya is stunning. More difficult to show is the impact on people. The film here makes a real attempt to do so. The conlict is viewed through the prism of three children. The children are found at a Russian military boys academy, a war-torn town and a children's refugee camp. Room No. 1, "Longing" is shot in a Russian military school at Kronstadt near St. Petersburg. As might be expected at a military school, the boys are highly regimented. The film suggests that the students are from broken or dysfunctional families. I'm not sure how true this is or why it is the case. Are more affluent parents steering their children away from the military? The film shows both school life (classes, church ceremonies, and recess) and profiles some of the boys. Room No. 2, "Breathing," was shot in Grozny, the Chechnyan capital. The scenes shows the widespread destruction of the city as a result of Russian shelling and bombardment. Seeing scenes like this makes one wonder when Russian diplmats criticise American bombings in Serbia an Iraq. Sone families try to survive in the ruins where packs of stray dogs roam wild. The Russian Army is everywhere. The camera focus in on a woman with vurtually no resources trying to save orrphaned children. Room No. 3, "Remembering," filmed in Ingushetia, another Russian repulic located west of Chechnya. Here the camera focus on the children in refugee camps and an orphanage with primitive facilities. One boy lives in a cardboard box. Then they present a teenager raped earlier by Russian soldiers. A group of children watch the tragic North Star theater attck by Chechen terrorists in Moscow.

Assessment

The film clearly depicts the Russians as the villans in the Chechan tragedy. This is in large measure a story that needs to be told. What the film depicts is essentiall true as best I can determine. The film does not, however, attempt to depict the role of Chechan extremists in the terrible tragedy unfolding there. Of course the children have no real understanding of the conflict. They only understand what has happened to them.







HBC





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Created: 9:02 PM 10/8/2006
Last updated: 9:02 PM 10/8/2006