HOW I ENDED THIS SUMMER

Russia, 2010, 124 minutes, Colour.
Grigory Dobrygin, Sergei Puskepalis.
Directed by Alexei Popogrevsky.

How I Ended This Summer is a beautifully crafted film, set in one of the most extreme north-eastern parts of Russia and filmed at an actual weather station. It is the story of two men, posted to check readings, especially of radioactivity as well as weather in this remote area. The film capitalises on the isolation, the loneliness, the vastness of the space and the island with the ice floes and the sea, the mountainous background, even the presence of a polar bear. It also makes the audience lose a sense of time with the Arctic light as well as the regular hours in which the two men have to make their reports to headquarters.

However, the film described as an existentialist drama, will be taxing for even a patient audience, given its length. At times it seems like a reality film on the Discovery Channel or the National Geographic Channel. At moments it seems like Survivor and, with the appearance of the polar bear, Get Me Out of Here. Finally the film becomes rather melodramatic as the two men confront each other.

However, the crisis caused in the film could have been righted in about one minute. The film shows a young man, on internment at the weather station for the summer, absorbed with his MP3 and computer games, sleeping, unreliable and altering data when he forgets to make communication. However, in his irresponsibility, he does not pass on a crucial message to the older man – and there are grievous consequences.

Some people get very impatient with characters – declaring that they need a good swift kick up the backside or need a good slap. While this reviewer does not subscribe to this particular process, it was very tempting to think about it in terms of the young man who shows huge immaturity and irresponsibility.

A film which is to be admired – but one which many audiences would find very difficult to sit through.

1.The overall impact of the film? Beauty, ruggedness of nature? The island, the mountains, the tundra, the sea? The ice floes? The atmosphere of the Arctic? The craft brought to photograph this story, edit it?

2.The basic story, the weather station, the measurements, communicating these to headquarters? The isolation for the man permanently at the station? In his fifties, used to it? The effect on the young internee? There for the summer? Considered something of a tourist by the older man?

3.The weather station itself, the buildings, the rooms, the communications? The power generated? The food, the older man going trout fishing, walrus meat? The ruggedness of living, sleeping quarters, food?

4.The musical score and its atmosphere?

5.The character of the older man, in charge, experience, time? His relationship with his wife and son, sending them a message? His going trout fishing? Relying on the younger man, rebuking him when he made errors? His finally going out fishing, not knowing the true message about the death of his wife and son? Finding the young man, rescuing him? The revelation of the ship coming, the helicopter? The young man afraid of the older man? The older man and his pursuit? His kindness, even after hearing the fish was radioactive? Sending the young man away? Staying on the island?

6.The young man, coming for the summer, his training, internship? His doing the measurements, of the radioactivity, of the sun measurements, the other information? Using his computer? His sleeping, unreliability, altering the statistics? His relationship with the older man, apprehensive about him? His listening to his MP3? Playing the violent video games? His being urged to go to the sauna, the older man beating him, their going into the sea? The meals together? The old man and the fishing, teaching the young man how to cut the trout? The young man and the mistake of not giving the message to the older man? The consequences of this for him? Lying, covering up?

7.The message to go out with the flares, the encounter with the polar bear, his fall down the cliff? Being rescued?

8.His fear, the older man and hearing the truth, the young man being so blunt? His being frightened, going to the other building, the issue of the smoke and the chimney, fearing the older man coming, going down the cliff, round the cliff into the sea? Hiding, the radioactive fish?

9.The older man calling him in, the explanation, forgiving him? The rescue ship, taking the radioactivity machine away? The older man’s decision to stay, the younger man wanting to stay? Going away?

10.The overall effect of the film, requiring attention and patience, audiences finding it difficult to give this to the film?