Embark on a journey of more than two hours through the schools that dot northern, southern, western and central Ukraine. Shot over a period of more than two years, starting shortly after Russia invaded Ukraina in 2022, Kateryna Gornostai’s film is an entirely observational endeavour. There are no talking heads, no voiceover, no archive footage and very few artistic devices (such as animation and reenactments). This is a very raw and austere fly-on-the-wall documentary, akin to the recent films of Bing Wang (such as last year’s Youth). Both the Ukrainian and the Chinese directors capture young people as they go on with their lives in an environment not conducive to happiness.
The most remarkable aspect, and also one of the most important takeaways of Timestamp, is that life must go on regardless of the conditions. These young people – ranging from pre-school to high school age – seek to forge a sense of normalcy despite the terrible circumstances. As the director travels from town to town, a title card reveals the distance between each location and the frontline, which can be as little as eight kilometres. Some towns have been liberated. Others are within a stone’s throw of the Russian border. The images of vast destruction in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia reveal that the urban landscape too has to bear the horrific brunt of war.
It is very moving to watch a teacher calmly trying to inject the war practicalities with a touch of playfulness: the small children as asked to sing “danger, danger” just as they learn not to touch any foreign objects. The picture of a teddy bear with an explosive attached to its back comes to symbolise such contrast. In another crucial moment, teenagers learn that a severed finger does not represent a haemorrhage big enough for a tourniquet, while a blown-off hand merits the device.
Refreshingly, this is not a movie bursting with nationalism. The occasional flag, anthem and discourse are indeed present, however the message of patriotism does not become excessive. It is an anti-war song that the children sing with most enthusiasm.
There are abundant reasons to cry, but also grounds for smiling. A devastated crowd attends the funeral of school principal Tatiana. On the other hand, adolescents cheer loudly during their high school graduation ceremony. Hope and dream never cease to exist. Overall, this is a warm and effective register of youth sentiments under extreme hardship. A conceptual music score blending minimalistic sounds and eerie chanting adds a very gentle artistic touch to the proceedings, without robbing the characters of their individuality and their humanity.
Timestamp premiered in the Official Competition of the 75th edition of the Berlin International Film Festival, when this piece was originally written. Also showing at IndieLisboa, Karlovy Vary, and the Tallinn Black Nights.
