Zero Position

From its shocking opening image of a bridge snapped in two Zero Position crosses an eerie landscape fractured by dueling Russian separatist and Ukrainian forces On this cinematic journey there are no interviews or extensive explanations of the conflict between the opposing sides Accompanied by an evocative soundscape the film moves like a ghostly presence through a troubled region pausing at heavily armed checkpoints and competing front lines As the camera captures people scurrying past the aftermath of conflict carrying plastic bags bulging with items gleaned from abandoned homes we see the stark reality of a people caught in a borderland between East and West Director Louie Palus expressive sparse and poetically delivered voiceover adds context to places the nightly news cameras dont take us including an old coal mine and a familys home Through its mood and atmosphere Zero Position offers us an experiential look at a region on the brink of allout war