The Tribe

directed by Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy, NL, UA, 2014, 126 min., Ukrainian with Czech subtitles

Deaf teenager Sergej starts attending a specialized boarding school where he becomes a member of a wild organization – the so-called Tribe. Gradually he settles into the environment and adapts to its regime. The full length feature film debut by the Ukrainian director Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy is an exceptional filmmaking achievement since its visual storytelling is based on realistic scenes using only sign language and precise work with space and sound. His short film Deafness (premiered at the Main Competition of short films at Berlin International Film Festival) was a preparation for the full length debut in which he also intensively worked with the deaf community. The same non-actors were cast in The Tribe. Gestures, facial expressions, stances and body language of the protagonists become the only understandable language for the audience.