THE SETTLEMENT

Portrait

As the dawn haze lifts a new day is beginning in the remote settlement. Men and women harvest hay and potatoes in the fields, chop wood in the nearby forest. The longer we watch, the more striking becomes the clumsiness of their gait, the distractedness of their actions, the bewilderment on their faces. The people who live here at one with nature all suffer from mental problems. Loznitsa observes the community’s daily routine from a respectful distance. A picture comes about of the mythical Arcadia, ending with the sound of “Ave Maria” to emphasise the dignity of every human being.
POSELENIE / DIE SIEDLUNG
RUS 2001 / 80 min
Director: Sergei Loznitsa
  • Cinematographer: Pavel Kostomarov
  • Sound: Valeriy Petriashvili
  • Producer: Vyacheslav Telnov
  • Production Company: St. Petersburg Documentary Film Studios - Russia
  • Rights Holder: Deckert Distribution - Germany
As the dawn haze lifts a new day is beginning in the remote settlement. Men and women harvest hay and potatoes in the fields, chop wood in the nearby forest. The longer we watch, the more striking becomes the clumsiness of their gait, the distractedness of their actions, the bewilderment on their faces. The people who live here at one with nature all suffer from mental problems. Loznitsa observes the community’s daily routine from a respectful distance. A picture comes about of the mythical Arcadia, ending with the sound of “Ave Maria” to emphasise the dignity of every human being.
  • Cinematographer: Pavel Kostomarov
  • Sound: Valeriy Petriashvili
  • Producer: Vyacheslav Telnov
  • Production Company: St. Petersburg Documentary Film Studios - Russia
  • Rights Holder: Deckert Distribution - Germany