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 Senior Editor and Film Critic. He is a contributing editor of Filmmaker magazine.
Ray’s history of Chicago Ghost Signs is planned for publication next year. Previews of the project are on Twitter and on Instagram. More photography on Instagram.
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