Object 817 (Belgium) by Olga Lucovnicova, "intertwining fact and superstition"

Object 817 follows a team exploring an abandoned village situated amongst Russia’s Ural mountain range. After finding the remains of what appears to be an extraterrestrial, they uncover sinister revelations about their village — and country’s — not so distant past.

A documentary intertwining fact and superstition, the film drops hints and clues for the viewer, letting them in on unraveling the mystery. Static, archival video is combined with contemporary documentary footage, grainy aerial photography, and voiceovers by village residents. There is a palpable tension maintained, the drab visuals of present-day effectively juxtaposed with the gritty camcorder footage.

The film is remarkably original in its treatment of haunting, and very real, subject matter. It asks some powerful questions about the way people attempt to explain, or even justify, the unthinkable. In the face of unimaginable pain, the villagers have no choice but to pin the blame on the supernatural, the otherworldly. The alternative, that their own government is at fault for generations of suffering, is almost too horrible to imagine. Ultimately, the film is an effective, unique exploration of coping, denial, and the ability of authoritarian regimes to not only harm, but to silence.

Review by Shane McKevitt for Venice Film Week: https://www.venicefilmweek.com