“Rule of Two Walls”

The gut-wrenching and profound documentary “Rule of Two Walls” is the type of film that is affecting in a way that will stay with you forever. Offering a unique perspective on the war in Ukraine, the story is presented and seen through the lens of the country’s artists who refuse to let their creative spirits be crushed by the violence around them.

Director David Gutnik’s, film is an eye-opening portrayal of resilience, identity, and the will of a country’s people fighting not just for their land, but for their culture, their memory, and the very truth of their existence. This is a time capsule of modern history that is as extraordinary as it is important.

The intimate film captures the tension between the yearning need of artists to create with the horrors of war that threaten to silence the voices of the creative population of a war-torn country. Gutnik makes the artists his subjects, from painters, musicians, street performers, and filmmakers, all who continue to produce art amidst the chaos and violence. Using their work as a form of resistance against aggression, they are driven by a desire to do what they know best: to create.

There’s something so inspiring about this need to conceive, construct, and design, and the film gives insight into the psychology of the artist by shining a light on the role these creators play in society (which is one that is often overlooked and taken for granted). Even as their world is being destroyed around them, the determination of these artists to boldly express their fears, sadness, and range of emotion is commendable. It’s this need to be seen and heard that matters, and the documentary is a reminder to never underestimate the will of a country and her people.

In the face of unimaginable adversity, these individuals continue to make art not just as an act of defiance, but as a means of processing their trauma, recording their truths, and ensuring that their experience is not forgotten. This makes the film a universal story of memory and identity.

Gutnik doesn’t shy away from the brutal realities of war. The documentary is filled with unsettling, graphic images of destruction and death that serve as a stark reminder of the human cost of conflict. These scenes are distressing and often difficult to watch, but they are necessary, grounding audiences in the harsh truth of what is happening in Ukraine. The film’s unflinching portrayal of these horrors makes it all the more powerful.

If I had to describe “Rule of Two Walls” in one word, it would be “powerful.” The film is a disturbing and horrific look at the importance of meaningful art in the darkest of times, but is also a story of defiance in the face of aggression. This is an honest and intimate documentary that demands to be seen, heard, and remembered.

By: Louisa Moore