Directed by: Anna Panova Written by: - Genre: Documentary Connect:
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Point Symmetry
Many people fear that as time marches on, the horrific events of WWII will largely be forgotten or at the very least, end up downplayed in some way. I tend to disagree because there is so much literature and media in general on the subject, I believe it will remain the quintessential historic atrocity with Hitler and his minions staining time for a long, long time to come. Hollywood loves WWII movies and in recent years, even the indie circuit has picked up on them. Why shouldn't they? Independent filmmakers are not afraid to explore deeper aspects of the war, including its effects on families and their descendants. Point Symmetry is one such exploration and even though it runs under 20 minutes, there are some really powerful moments and imagery.
Anna Panova brings us a narrative from two perspectives, both Jewish and German, and relies heavily on interview segments and artwork to tell its story. We all know the story, but hearing the effects WWII had on families never fails to horrify. But Point Symmetry goes further as we meet the descendants as they are now - and hear the tales from their perspective. Stories of silence and shame from one side as well as horror and outrage from the other. We all know what the holocaust is, and although this film does focus on it and WWII, its main focus is the people. The families. The lives. There are some haunting moments in this short film, as I've already stated, but some of the imagery sticks with you. As I write this, I'm still thinking about some of the artwork exhibited in this film. Particularly, "Family Reunion" and "The Missing" are still echoing in my brain. In case you're wondering, these are works of art showcased in the film. Along with others, these pieces allow a glimpse of the horrors of WWII in a way even the current generation could understand. Powerful, even brutal... but point taken. This is a micro-budget documentary that sets out to do a job and does it well. Not perfectly, but well enough. There are times when this film feels a little fast, but only just. Point Symmetry doesn't attempt to reinvent its purpose, only to bring in a different perspective. It works well. Three and a half stars. Thank you for reading. |
