Watch The Tribe

The Tribe is a 2014 Ukrainian drama film directed by Myroslav Slaboshpytskyi. It tells the story of a new student, Sergey, who arrives at a boarding school for deaf teenagers. As he begins to navigate his new environment, he quickly learns that the school operates more like a gang than an institution for learning. The students engage in criminal activities, including theft and prostitution, and the school's administrators turn a blind eye to their behavior.

The film is notable for its unique approach to storytelling: it features no spoken dialogue, no subtitles, and no voice-over narration. Instead, it relies entirely on the visual language of sign language to communicate its story. This choice gives the film a raw, visceral quality that makes it both haunting and unforgettable.

From the opening shot, Slaboshpytskyi establishes a tone that is both bleak and uncompromising. The camera follows Sergey as he makes his way through the school's corridors, passing by groups of students engaged in various illicit activities. From the way they move and interact with one another, it's clear that these students are a tight-knit community. But it's also clear that they are deeply troubled and desperate for a way out.

As the film progresses, Sergey becomes increasingly involved in the school's underworld. He befriends a young woman named Anna, who works as a prostitute to support herself and her baby. Together, they navigate the dangerous landscape of the school, encountering violence and betrayal at every turn.

The Tribe is a film that confronts its audience with uncomfortable truths about the nature of power and corruption. The students in the school may be deaf, but they are far from voiceless. Their silent language is a potent tool for communication and manipulation, and they use it to devastating effect. At the same time, the film also celebrates the resilience of the human spirit. Despite their bleak circumstances, Sergey and Anna find a glimmer of hope and connection in each other.

One of the most striking things about The Tribe is its use of long, unbroken takes. Slaboshpytskyi's camera lingers on scenes, often for several minutes at a time, allowing us to soak in the details of the world he has created. This approach can be difficult to watch at times, as the film depicts acts of violence and exploitation in unflinching detail. But it also gives the film an immediacy and urgency that is hard to achieve with more traditional editing techniques.

The performances in The Tribe are all outstanding, particularly given the fact that the actors are all non-professionals. Hryhoriy Fesenko, who plays Sergey, is a revelation. He conveys a wide range of emotions with just his face and body language, and he manages to make us care about his character even when he's doing terrible things. Yana Novikova, who plays Anna, is equally impressive. Her expressive face and fierce determination make her a standout among the all-star cast.

All in all, The Tribe is a challenging but rewarding film. It is not for the faint of heart or those looking for a lighthearted romp. But for those willing to take the journey, it offers a profound meditation on the human condition and the lengths we will go to survive. Slaboshpytskyi's bold visual style and the exceptional performances by his actors make The Tribe a filmmaking triumph that will stay with you long after the credits roll.

The Tribe is a 2015 drama with a runtime of 2 hours and 10 minutes. It has received mostly positive reviews from critics and viewers, who have given it an IMDb score of 7.0 and a MetaScore of 78.