The Tribe

Ukrainian writer-director Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy's debut feature is wordless—but not soundless. Employing ambient noise (although no music), the film is set at a boarding school for the deaf in Kiev, with the dialogue presented entirely in sign language without subtitles. Unless viewers can read sign, they will have to depend on the characters' gestures and expressions to understand the narrative. But while some minor details might remain ambiguous, the simple plot trajectory is relatively easy to follow, centering on an outsider struggling to penetrate an alien world. Sergey (Grigoriy Fesenko) is a newly-enrolled teen who learns that some of his classmates shake down the other students and sneak out at night to carouse and rob random victims while also pimping out girls at a nearby truck stop. Once Sergey proves his mettle, he works his way up the leadership ladder, but his infatuation with one of the girls results in his being expulsed from the gang, setting him on a course to exact a terrible retribution. The Tribe creates an unsettling mood of grubby desperation and almost graphic seedy sex, while the cast of non-professionals exhibit a degree of intensity that is nearly feral. A haunting experience, this is recommended. [Note: DVD/Blu-ray extras include audio commentary by director Myroslav Slaboshpytskiy and film critic Devin Faraci, an interview with costar Yana Novikova (22 min.), Slaboshpytskiy's 2010 short “Deafness” (10 min.), and trailers. Exclusive to the Blu-ray release is a bonus digital copy of the film. Bottom line: a solid extras package for a winning film.] (F. Swietek)