RULE OF TWO WALLS
by Kathryn Loggins
David Gutnik, Ukraine 2023
A young couple wakes up in their bed on a grey spring morning. They lovingly turn to each other, hoping to share a sweet intimate moment, but are curtly interrupted by air raid sirens. This is life in Lviv, Ukraine, in April of 2022, two months after the full-scale invasion by Russia. This young couple is risking their lives by staying in the country, so why did they decide not to leave? What exactly are they staying for? This is the question filmmaker David Gutnik, whose entire family is from Ukraine, seeks to answer with his harrowing but vital documentary RULE OF TWO WALLS. He initially intended to make a film about people who were displaced by the war, but he says in his director’s statement that it became clear to him that once he crossed the border from Poland into Ukraine with his camera he’d be telling the stories of the people who stayed in the country, specifically the artists who did. Gutnik uses an ensemble approach to tell the stories of these various artists, whether it be gallery organizers, street artists, musicians, painters, etc. as opposed to focusing on just one subject. It is clear that his goal is to show Russia and the world how essential Ukrainian culture is, despite the fact that Putin claims it to be non-existent. The Ukrainian people have their own unique voice that deserves to be heard and fought for.
RULE OF TWO WALLS blends documentary filmmaking with narrative techniques in order to truly focus on the story of the people, as opposed to just showing footage of the war. While the filmmaker doesn’t shy away from employing unflinching horrific images, they are not used just for shock value. When footage of burned bodies, brooms sweeping up piles of broken glass and burning buildings flash across the screen is it meant to be upsetting, but the audience is also pushed to think of the stories of the people who risked their lives to capture these images. Each artist featured in the film believes in the importance of what they are doing and is proud to be actively fighting to protect their culture. “No wars can deprive us of our cultural heritage and traditions”, an anonymous artist states boldly and proudly. Many of the subjects have suffered deep personal loss as a result of the war and it’s heart-breaking to bear witness to their plights, but as the audience we are not left with a sense of hopelessness. As the focus of the film shifts somewhat to highlight the stories of the members of Gutnik’s team members–including his own personal story–it becomes clear that art was intrinsic to their survival. Art has given them the will to carry on and to fight, which is an inspiring and encouraging narrative to watch unfold.
