“ONCE IN THE DESERT”
MOVIE REVIEW
The Russian war film "Once
in the Desert" directed by Andrey Kravchuk tells the story of sappers
serving in the Russian military operation in Syria. Based on a true story, the
film follows the life of a veteran Deminer on a dangerous mission to defuse
explosives in Palmyra, a cultural city liberated from ISIS in Syria.
Here the central character is a
soldier fighting with a gun for the blood of the enemy. Instead, the
experienced technician defuses explosives left by terrorists that have
destroyed Syria's beautiful cultural center. One
wrong move and it’s all over for him and his team. Each explosive device is more
complex and destructive than the other. Most war films are difficult to watch.
Death and destruction is writ large in its story, and you never know which
character will be thrown at you next. It's a kind of wild and sad thriller,
because it's true stories about real people.
By its very nature, the film's
script is filled with gripping moments of tension and dread. Not knowing what
could go wrong, watching Russian soldiers approach the city center and disarm
and defuse the explosive devices is truly heartbreaking and exciting. And many
more do. In particular, Alexander Roebuck plays Shaperov, an experienced
Russian submarine captain who wears his heart on his sleeve. He wants to see
and talk to his daughter who is always busier than him on video calls. He soon
forms a special relationship with Jamilia, a civilian played by Ekaterina
Nesterova. Being in a war zone doesn't make him a hardened killer, and despite
being taunted by the younger soldiers and suspended from duty, he continues his
career for his team.
Most of the scenes involving
explosions and their impact are very subtle and detailed. The film's
cinematography captures the dry, sun-scorched landscape of the sandy Syrian
desert. It conveys the physical challenges of filming scenes with intense
action, gunfire, and explosions in punishing heat. However, it would be
appropriate to contextualize a bit more about Palmyra's history and the
Mariinsky Symphony Orchestra's iconic performance, which creates an impetus for
the action on screen. Also, Shaberov's one-sided love for Jamelia lacks
conviction. Instead, the film would have been healthier if it had included
stories about Syrian life, which ordinary people in this war-torn country are
always on the receiving end of.
That said, 'Once in the Desert'
makes for an impressive watch right from the start. It has a relentless and
explosive action that usually exposes and executes with clockwork precision.
The film fulfills its mission of giving the audience a war thriller and a
realistic experience of deadly terror that can never be justified.
[WATCH MOVIE REVIEW VIDEO HERE...]
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