Vakha i Magomed

A father teaches his son to box. He encourages him to hit harder and be more steady on his feet, while the 10-year-old sits listlessly on a chair catching his breath. We are then treated to scenes of the father and son in everyday situations. The father sees to it that the boy eats well, makes sure he brushes his teeth, and provides commentary to a shooter video game. The father takes his son to a shop, where the boy takes a test ride on a bike. Father and son give off a troubled air, and the surroundings in which they move are austere to the point of miserable. There is no voice-over; the film simply observes. Only at the end does the viewer find out who these two people are, and this is when much of what we have seen falls into place. Vakha and Magomed are Chechens living in a refugee center in Warsaw. Vakha has already lost his older son. Past experiences and future concerns cast a shadow on his days. (International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam)