The pencil (Russia, 2019) Review

"The best you can do is go back to your city"

Director: Natalya Nazarova.
Screenplay: Natalya Nazarova
Cast: Nadezhad Gorelova, Vladimir Mishukov
Festivals: Okno Filmfest, Vyborg, Russia – National Competition (National/World Premiere) Won critics award and special jury award.
41st CAIRO INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL, Cairo, Egypt -International Panorama, International Premiere.
Golden Rooster Film Festival, Xiamen, China -International Competition, Chinese Premiere.

A pencil is something basic in our lives, but so necessary and beautiful, full of details and tints, but above all, full of history. A tool that approaches us to the beauty of details while we are drawing on paper.

Antonina, an artist from San Petersburg, goes to the north of Russia looking for his husband, a political prisoner wrongfully sentenced to 8 years of imprisonment. When she starts as an arts teacher, Misha, a student and local gang member, will make her life and the rest of the students miserable.

The pencil is a powerful drama about violence, injustice and how about fear shuts up in our own cages. A cold and distressing movie, of slow tempo and realistic realization. A very dark story where there's also space to understanding, love and empathy. A clear example of culture shock between several areas in the same country.

The classic screenplay structure engages us in a journey where our main character will find friendship, rejection and will be overwhelmed by the prejudices of a corrupted society incapable to act against injustices.

The low color in the film and the taste of documentary produce a stunning reality, especially in the tension and violence scenes.
The pencil has gorgeous shots that mellow down the industrialized locations and give a break to the viewer, showing that inside all that rust, stones, factories and metal, nature grows up beautiful and magnificent. Under all that much hostility and rawness, we also find amazing captivating scenes. Like the sweet piano notes that flow while the students imaginations wake up in wonderful places surrounded by a hostile and dirty society. Art is their escape route, medicine for their soul.

The movie is excellent in the interpretative level with an amazing cast. The spontaneity of the actors highlights the fierceness of some of the scenes and intensifies the emotional moments.

The almost inexistent music soundtrack works as a conductor in the peace times, filling the atmosphere with freedom and hope.

In conclusion, The pencil is a rough emotional small movie with a great message behind. It shows that inside the grey area we can find the color of life. Lovely.

The best: Excellent acting. An interesting plot with a demolishing message.

The worst: It shows with no mercy the cruel reality.