On February 23rd, the ANU Museum of the Jewish people, in partnership with “Babel” bookstore and NADAV Foundation, held the final eleventh night of the cinema club “Through Our Eyes”. The event was timed to coincide with the anniversary of the beginning of Russia’s full-scale military invasion of Ukraine. Guests were invited to watch Valentin Vasyanovich’s drama “Atlantis”, which was shot four years ago as an anti-utopia. The film is set in the year 2025, after the defeat of Russia, and starts with the title “Eastern Ukraine. One Year After the War.” The protagonist, Sergei, is a survivor who is haunted by the tragedies of the war, such as poisoned water, mined fields, and the bodies of thousands of nameless soldiers being found every day. The film’s wide-angle shots, long scenes, and complete absence of music create a painfully realistic sense of relating to the characters. The final scene, which shows the main characters hugging on the roof of the Azovstal factory, is particularly difficult to watch after the recent brutal destruction of Mariupol by Russian troops.
We would like to thank everyone who attended the film club “Through Our Eyes” meetings this year, especially our talented host Roma Liberov and all the guests, movie directors, and writers who joined us for our post-watch discussions. All proceeds from ticket sales on February 23rd were donated to Ukraine.
Photo: Yael Ilinsky
