- Date of Release: 10 June 2024
- Genre: Biography, Drama
- Language: Polish
- Watch On: Tribeca Film Festival
Under The Grey Sky
Introduction
In the opening scene of Under The Grey Sky, you see one of the characters discreetly reporting a riot that has literally exploded in Belarus. The scenes are horrific even as the mob were resorted to violence by the police which were serving the Government. All of the hoopla is being recorded by the characters hiding in a suburban flat overseeing the situation on ground. This, until they are intercepted by the authorities in a clear case of fascism. Now while this situation did unfold in Belarus, I would reckon even if the setting was changed to a place/country which you are familiar with, then too the situation may not have been drastically different. This can be attributed to the power hungry officials who wish to weigh down the voice of the people either by destroying the fourth pillar of democracy(media) or literally stamping their authority by crushing the people, who themselves are a strong pillar of democracy. As a part of the Tribeca Film Festival, I did get to witness a powerful Polish film based on a recent true story titled, Under The Grey Sky. Does it manage to impress, let’s find out.
Story & Screenplay
Based on an unfortunate true event, Under The Grey Sky follows the story of a Belarusian journalist who is arrested for covertly livestreaming brutal Government crackdowns on peaceful demonstrators following an election. And her quest for justice is what shapes the rest of the tale. The story here is powerful and almost reflective of the times that we live in. In fact, the events of the film were uncannily similar to the situation in some of the other countries as well where autocracy rules in the face of democracy. And quite honestly, this often results in the crumbling of the entire system who are reduced to being pawns of the authorities. Which is why stories like these are relevant given that they use the medium of cinema as a powerful tool for voicing the injustices at the hands of the authorities. The screenplay standing at just a shade over 80 minutes(even shorter if you don’t consider the rolling credits) is taut and extremely hard-hitting. The situations created along the way seemed way to familiar for my comfort and the result of it was a frightening saga of the crumbling state of democracy.
The drama briefly dabbles with the idea of a non-linear storytelling with frequent flashbacks that give an account of the two protagonists in the film, both being journalists but with different levels of risk-taking abilities. So you have Lena who is a fierce character having a strong opinion of what is right for the people, even though she is well aware of the consequences attached to them. Her husband on the other hand is timid and less braver than his wife, even though he is in sync with the ideologies that he shares with his wife. These are two contrasting personalities at the hands of the government, even as the character of the husband continues his quiet fight in seeking for justice for his wife who is arrested and falsely implicated by the authorities.
The proceedings are engaging and supremely relatable given that Lena is arrested of treason, when the reality was that she was caught filming the atrocities committed by the authorities. But at its core, the journey is more of a whisper featuring the character of the husband who wishes no harm for his wife, even if it means wilting at the demands of the authorities. And hence, the character arc Lena was so crucial and heartbreaking given how she was forced to change her ideals at the behest of the authorities. The writers wished to highlight this sad face of fascism which frequently functions as a democracy. This does lead to a heartbreaking final act even as actual visuals from reality trace the journey of the protagonist before she is arrested in this painfully true event(while covering the Belarus riots of 2020-2021). The screenplay is very well written and makes for a brilliant watch.
Dialogues, Music & Direction
The dialogues are conversational but much deeper with the intended emotions in play. The BGM is sparingly used, often allowing the rawness in the drama to take over the narrative thereby making it a hard-hitting watch. The cinematography features frames that are powerful and rather infuriating even as quiet moments are reserved for the vulnerabilities of the characters. The editing is crisp and sharp while never wavering from the issue at hand. Director Mara Tamkovich does an incredible job in making a point about the fascism rule of the country even while staying intimate with the portrayal of her protagonists and highlighting their emotions subtly. The direction is excellent here.
Performances
The performances are incredibly good by the entire ensemble cast. But in effect, this is a two character story and both the protagonists Valentin Novopolskij and Aliaksandra Vaitsekhovic stand out. The former as Ilya is sober and restrained while also being endearing and caring in a gentle way. The latter is fiery only for the system to reduce her personality to a sorry state. Both of them are brilliant and perform wonderfully well even as their performance lingers on long after the film has ended.
Conclusion
As a part of our Tribeca Film Festival coverage, Under The Grey Sky is a frightening account of a crumbling democracy in the wake of fascism that makes for a powerful watch, even as its effect lingers on long after the film has ended. Highly Recommended!
