Juvenile

This documentary goes inside a Serbian correctional facility for juveniles, although the way it does it is not to send in an interviewer but rather to send in the camera as a floating spirit. This approach is not so easy to pull off, as observing of course tends to change that which is being observed, however in this case it works very well. The resulting film is not a razor-sharp expose of anything, but it has a natural atmosphere which it complements with a stylish eye and presentation throughout. The sense of wasted time, small beef etc is there, but so too is a sense of people and hopes – albeit mostly downbeat and oppressed by the reality of their situation.

It feels a bit long due to this style, but it is still a memorable short which puts the viewer in a place surprisingly well.