Abschied von Matjora

The Russian island village of Matjora is to be flooded because of a hydroelectric power plant. The villagers are divided in their opinion: Some old people, who would rather die with their home than lose it, oppose the evacuation. Others only recognize the loss at the moment of destruction. Set in the field of tension between progress and tradition, the film is particularly convincing due to its deeply humane attitude and its staging, which uses overwhelming visual metaphors to make complex contexts tangible. (filmdienst.de)