Rule of Two Walls

In this harsh but elucidating doc, Ukrainian-American filmmaker David Gunik trains his camera on the Ukrainian artists who have chosen to stay behind as Russia’s invasion rages on around them. By making their art, they hope to protect their embattled country’s own artistic culture, no matter how many bombs drop around them. Witness the war in Ukraine from the eyes of the artists who stayed behind. RULE OF TWO WALLS is a documentary on the ground in Ukraine with artists of all kinds—musicians, visual artists, performers—who use their work as a form of resistance to the Russian invasion. The film is one of the most expressive cinematic documents of the war in Ukraine yet. It is not only powerful in capturing artistic resistance, but also in reflecting how daily life continues despite the omnipresent cloud of war. Immersing the audience into the tense atmosphere of ongoing struggle, these artists’ collective work is presented with deep curiosity and immediacy, sending an urgent message of irrepressible spirit to the outside world and toward Russian forces. —C.F. Content Warning: This film contains material that may be difficult for some viewers. Viewer discretion is advised.