O-Bi, O-Ba: The End of Civilization

The 80s and 90s were an odd period for science-fiction disaster films around Eastern Europe. The Cold War was still ongoing and fears of nuclear escalation remained as strong as ever. Many of these films ended up coming from Russia, some of them incredibly unsettling. I assumed I had seen pretty much all of what this genre offered, until I stumbled across this film of a relatively odd title: O-Bi, O-Ba. A Polish film which takes place after a nuclear strike which reduces many to the mountains, into a bunker where the future remains as bleak as ever. Where the damp concrete environment tests the sanity of those who survived the strikes, where above is a land scorched and uninhabitable. And to no surprise: those who remain within the depths of the mountain fall into the fundamental flaws of society. Where politics and anxiety connect.

Now, I haven't seen many Polish films before, I think the total sum can be counted on just one hand, actually. So this was a film that stood out to me not just from the themes, but also the nation it came from. Another which directly saw the fears that arose from the Cold War. The nation still rather connected to its Eastern partner, significantly more so than today's current conditions where it relies heavily on its new western partners. To see a film from the perspective it had back then shows the stark contrast in how much the nation has grown and shifted in its ideology within the past forty years, with the film's release in 1985. Just six years before the collapse the Soviet Union, where between 1989 and 1991 its surrounding nations would also follow in independence, creating an even more uncertain present and future for the region.

Much like the films of similar era and concept, O-Bi, O-Ban carries with the reliance on unique types of film stock and lighting to set the environment. Strong blue tones which show the cold, damp and concrete surroundings that disconnect them from the previous green and colourful world they once knew above. It shows the disarray and decay of the vault that they survive in, where they don't have the ability nor materials to maintain it and prosper as survivors going into the new world. And people within treat each other live savages. This vault being more inhumane than the scorched Earth above. To add, the film loves its used of close up perspectives to show the faces of those within the vault. Many old and weathered. Sometimes the camera moving throughout the rooms to show a dreamy, though rather more nightmarish feeling to it all.

Dystopian beyond this, the film displays the poor tunnels in which people live in rags. Though a speaker playing propaganda above that speaks on how they are the future of humanity. That only they can build and produce the next generation. The disconnect visible with how people hold their heads low to the ground. I liked this aspect of the film, showing the more realistic portrayal of how people would react being confined to damp tunnels and dim lighting. Where there's nothing to do beyond stand around. The whole film really crafted a depressing world. And this is without much mention of the nuclear war that propelled society into this state. If anything, it speaks on how it was always present. That nastiness always lingering around in some way or another. With the class issues that keep people down in poverty while telling them to grow out of it, knowing full well it isn't possible.

Regarding the narrative, it's a bit of a weird one, much like the similar titles of the genre. Though the most impressive thing here is the film's cinematography. The use of atmosphere and lighting was really creative for the type of film it is. In some ways it reminded me of that New Wave Hong Kong style, where there are strong neon lights in the surroundings which become the more dominant colour within the shot. And here it's mostly blues and greens. Cold tones, ones that don't seem comfortable or natural. Some of the perspectives and the way it uses light and silhouettes were really creative, especially with the addition of 35mm film stock. Really showing that dystopian, end of the world feeling. This is definitely not a film for everyone, though. A bit long. A bit experimental. Though certainly visually impressive.