- Tweeter
republish
From military service to the memory of murderous operations in the Caucasus, Russian young Spetsnaz share in a documentary some of their intimacy. A rare testimony about what these elite units are.
" On May 23, 2013, my cousin Dima died from a bullet in the head. This family drama is the starting point of the latest film by Russian documentary filmmaker Alexander Abaturov, The Son , which is released this Wednesday, May 29 at the cinema . Dima joined the Spetsnaz, the Russian special forces, before falling in an ambush during a mission to Dagestan, one of the republics of the Russian Federation, in the North Caucasus.
Struck by the news, Alexander Abaturov decides to follow the advice of his aunt: in tribute to Dima, armed with his camera, he tries to understand the journey of his cousin. The will of the parents of the deceased will be heard by the military hierarchy who accepts the intrusion of the documentary filmmaker, between 2014 and 2016.
Rare images of mysterious units
The Spetsnaz are very discreet units. These special forces comprise about 45,000 men in charge of the most sensitive operations, from sabotage to counterterrorism to external operations. In this context, they are largely engaged in clashes between the Russian state and the rebels of Chechnya, Daghestan and Ingushetia. It is very difficult to approach them and when the army opens its doors, the images are very controlled.
► See also: Caucasus / Russia: In Ingushetia, an exchange of territories that does not pass
In the depths of Siberia, filming authorizations have been obtained outside the official framework. Dima's parents directly asked the help of his former chiefs, in accordance with the principle of this homage. " I managed to go unnoticed , remembers Alexander Abaturov. I wanted to make a movie in memory of Dima. I never gave details and fortunately because I do not know how to lie. "
Throughout the documentary, the viewer alternately discovers the mourning of Dima's parents and the daily lives of young soldiers, conscripts or candidates for the Red Spetsnaz beret of the Army. Difficult nevertheless to get them to confide in the camera. Behind the scenes, they share a little more what motivates them to wear the uniform. According to Alexander Abaturov, few do it by a sense of duty: " One of the Spetsnaz told me, barely 2% are patriots. The rest are people from the kolkhozes who are trying to cope . There is a great contrast between the official speeches and the feelings of the men on the ground. "
Funny wars
From what these men do in the restless territories of the North Caucasus, the public does not know much. No wars on the national territory. We must speak of "counter-terrorism". In the absence of a free press in this region, information reaching Russia is scarce. The men, they, are silent on what they lived on the spot: " They speak about the mountains, the forests ... But not of the mission , explains the documentary maker . They try to bury it deep down. A bit like the veterans of the Second World War: they are glorified, but do not want to talk about it. "
► To read also: The Caucasus since the end of the Soviet era (RFI file Knowledge)
A sequence is particularly strong. Dima's brothers in arms tell his last fight. At the sound of the first bursts, they throw themselves on the ground. Too late for their comrade, killed on the spot. They catch up with the author of the shots. " It is said that he took up arms because he lost a son. Funny system, "one of the soldiers said bitterly in front of the camera.
A modest commitment
For Alexander Abaturov, this trip in khaki land was not obvious. He himself avoided military service and has been living in France since 2009, where he trained in documentary. After a first experience in the media in Russia, he concludes that he will hardly be able to practice the professions of the image freely.
However, when he goes to meet young Spetsnaz, he refuses to let his opinions and emotions take the lead: " After the death of Dima, I felt a lot of anger. But ethically, we have no right to harm his characters, those who have trusted us. The family of Dima and his brothers-in-arms were able to see the work: " They found it honest and just. The film does not only talk about Dima, he also talks about them. It affected them. "
The raw images of the film, without commentary of the director, plunge the public into the lives of these men, without passing judgment. Alexander Abaturov has chosen to give his viewer the freedom to form an opinion. Has the author's view of the army evolved? " It confirmed the vision I had ," he says. It is a machine disgusting, inhuman and ultra-violent. I saw how it breaks the fate of people. "