The early scenes of “Tesnota (Closeness)” — the first feature directed by Kantemir Balagov, whose subsequent “Beanpole” was Russia’s 2019 entry for the international feature Academy Award — convey unsettling sexual intrigue and old-fashioned exuberance. The tomboyish Ilana (Darya Zhovner) and her brother David (Veniamin Katz), part of a working-class Jewish family living in the Russian town of Nalchik in 1998, have an unusually close relationship. A little before David’s engagement party, the siblings have a cheeky discussion on how “lucky” David’s betrothed is, given his sexual equipment. Whoa.
The following celebration, though, is feisty and innocent. Balagov has a real knack for getting in close to his characters and almost participating, with the camera, in their dancing.
After this, the trouble begins. The couple is immediately kidnapped by locals — likely Kabardians, the Circassian tribe that dominates the town.
The demanded ransom is high, and while the engaged girl’s family can afford it, Ilana and David’s cannot. One potential solution involves an arranged marriage. But Ilana’s involved with a Kabardian lug, Zalim (Nazir Zhukov). As attached as she is to her brother, she can’t abide this proposed refutation of whatever autonomy she has left.
This movie, which Balagov, a Nalchik native, states in an onscreen text is based on a true story, has a whole lot of “slow” and one very nasty burn. Ilana gets plastered with Zalim and his pals (one of whom says, “Jews are good — to make soap from,” not aware Ilana is Jewish), and the group watches a VHS tape of authentic documentary footage showing the slow torture and murder of a Russian. This is apparently footage Balagov himself saw under similar circumstances as a younger man. Whatever his ostensible point, its inclusion here is a deplorably truculent demonstration of directorial prerogative. It does more than cast a pall over the rest of the picture.
Closeness
Not rated. In Russian, with subtitles. Running time: 1 hour 58 minutes. Watch on Kino Marquee.
Source: Movies - nytimes.com
