RECOMMENDED
One of the least likely adventure movies of any given year, Janet Tobias’ “No Place On Earth” tells the story of 511 days spent by thirty-eight members of five Ukrainian Jewish families during World War II in sunless caves. Voiceovers, shadow-encrusted interviews and cloacal recreations take much of the potential snap out of the genuinely compelling tale of how the families survived in the seventy-seven miles of “Priest’s Grotto Cave.” Tobias keeps the movie dim and murky, only slightly less so than what the survivors withstood; the only truly bright light is the elder witnesses speaking of their efforts years later. 83m. (Ray Pride)
“No Place On Earth” opens Friday at Landmark Century.
Ray Pride is Newcity’s film critic and a contributing editor to Filmmaker magazine.
His history of Chicago “Ghost Signs” in words and images is in the works. Previews on Twitter (twitter.com/chighostsigns) as well as photography on Instagram: instagram.com/raypride.
Twitter: twitter.com/RayPride.
Related Stories
Prolonged Threat: A Review of "A Quiet Place" "No noise, but silence and eternal sleep." “Titus Andronicus,” William Shakespeare.- Time on Earth: A Review of Tito and the Birds Brazilian children's animated science-fiction allegory may be onto something about its homeland.
- Earth Works: A Review of "Leaning Into The Wind" The modest man finds awe before himself and humbly embellishes it.
