LOCARNO FILM FESTIVAL 2024 REVIEW! We’ve covered many documentaries and stories about the decades-long Israeli/Palestinian conflict from the perspective of both sides and from almost every angle. Since October 7, 2023, there no sign that the stories about the conflict are not going to end. It’s only fair that we continue to cover these films.
Alina Orlov’s hybrid documentary short, The Calvary, looks at the conflict from the perspective of horses living…existing on the West Bank and in Israel. The doc opens in a rural setting where a horse is grazing in an open rural location. We then transition to the history of horses during the conflict, primarily those conscripted by the military and the police. Orlov presents archival photos and then uses Generative-AI to animate those images.
The next shot is of a horse seen from far away in the crowded West Bank in Gaza, galloping in a concrete corral in the middle of the city.
Lastly, we see an Israeli police officer training a new horse named “7” being trained/desensitized to harsh sounds and obstacles the horse may face while in the middle of a protest/demonstration/riot. The horse is subjected to a rider’s whip, a water hose, and even a freakish-looking tube man.
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“…a new horse named ‘7’ being trained/desensitized to harsh sounds and obstacles the horse may face while in the middle of a protest…”
The Calvary is a highly reflective film by director Alina Orlov. It was inspired by a protest against the Israeli government in January 2023. Witnessing the police response, Orlov couldn’t help but notice the horses’ role during the protests. They stood stoically, always under the control of their rider.
The film is a story of contrasts, opening with a horse in its natural environment and ending with how the Israeli police work with the horse to resist its natural urges and reactions in times of crisis. Breaking them down as an instrument of the military.
The Cavalry is a fascinating piece of filmmaking. The access to the training is highly insightful. Depending on your perspective, you can view it as either cruelty or necessity. The use of AI to animate photos is interesting. The artistic elements are stunning, but the animation of people and horses is just not quite working due to software limitations.
The Calvary is a deeply reflective and visually striking documentary that offers a unique perspective on the Israeli/Palestinian conflict through the lives of horses. Alina Orlov’s film contrasts the natural grace of these animals with the harsh realities they face as tools of the military and police. It’s a thought-provoking piece that challenges viewers to consider the impact of the conflict from an entirely different angle, even if the AI-enhanced visuals sometimes fall short.
The Calvary screened at the 2024 Locarno Film Festival.