The Dead Nation (2017)

The Dead Nation (2017). 1h 23m | Not Rated

“First, hats off to Radu Jude for making this film and others like it. We need these stories told so we never forget the history that – in Romania like in many other countries on both sides of the pond – has conveniently been ignored by dictators and nationalists (who masquerade as u0026quot;patriotsu0026quot;) alike.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eNow on to the movie itself. It tries to use a clever technique of telling a story and showing images that are u0026quot;dissonantu0026quot;. But for me that technique fell flat. It got to be tiring to the point where the visual dissonance distracted from the narrative. The pictures are not u0026quot;in oppositionu0026quot; to the narrative, theyu0026#39;re just random and at times plain weird. The point seems to have been that u0026quot;how come the pictures from the era did not capture the tragedy that was going onu0026quot;. One can draw such a u0026quot;conclusionu0026quot; with any set of selected pictures. You can find a picture of the Santa Monica pier in 2008 and look – thereu0026#39;s no indication of the recession that was going on. Huh? The point being? Canu0026#39;t a man pose with his cow anymore without the fear of being judged? Donu0026#39;t worry, youu0026#39;ll get the reference once you watch the film…u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eIf one wants to find relevant pictures for the story being told in this documentary, look no further than the last half hour of a movie by the very same Radu Jude – u0026quot;The exit of trainsu0026quot;. Itu0026#39;s not like these pictures donu0026#39;t exist.u003cbr/u003eu003cbr/u003eI applaud Radu Jude for bringing these stories to the fore. Luckily many of his other movies on the topic have been better. Strictly on its merits as a movie, itu0026#39;s just u0026quot;oku0026quot;, bonus points for trying a novel technique. Watch it to hear the necessary story it tells, and donu0026#39;t expect to be amazed by its artistic qualities.”