In this her first feature film Svetlana Koseniv is herself – no glory of artificiality interests her, she talks of what she feels important, of what bothers her own self. Yet, her own self she considers worth attention of her audience. She is confident that a human being talking cannot be of no interest to another human being. Film starts with Her (Lidia - Christina Schimmel) rushing in no elegant sporty manner, but rather the way people generally look, when rushing is their main act at the moment, yet, self-awareness of her being a woman, not an aged woman, is solidly in presence; the latter conditioned by the former makes her movements somewhat sadly funny. "Displaced" is a good word that comes to mind. As being late she enters her job placement, we easily discover the displacement of all other characters around her. Aren't we all "displaced", is that not what we often feel through our ordinary life? "Artificiality" is another word that comes to mind observing them through the first scenes. They are too aware of themselves, and not in a good way: they seem to hide their fears. Aren't we all in this hiding state while the ordinary life unravels? This lack of comfort starts the dramatic tone of the film. Then smoothly, almost unnoticeably things change. With great sense of balance and cause the director (Svetlana Koseniv) manages to brilliantly line this emerging, "melodic" softness with the development of the magnetic love force that swiftly captures her as He (Steven - Rick Gomes)comes to picture. She's still self-aware, her movements as he invites her to dance are stiffly funny, but his firm confidence, as we discover it later, stays with her; and after all it is her, who starts the romance. As she loses her self- awareness, she gains the feeling of unity, and then she acquires true beauty that she radiates. That and the circumstances build this subtle relationship, so subtle that it feels vulnerable. Which it, of course, is: life is vulnerable. 90 minutes of the film run unnoticed;splendidly pointed visual and audio palette perfectly balances with the drama texture of the scenes (it is worth mentioning that the original music score is beautiful, and is sharply associated with the perfect choice of visuals), simple and touching background of supporting characters trails the delicacy of the main drama development. Good job, and this film is what people will much appreciate – it meets their not so often these days met need for intricate feelings
Pirkka Kukkola Independent fiction writer
