
Canafilmbeclinicalandinformativeandyetalsodreamyandmysterious?Ofcourse,andalotmorebesides.ThatmuchisapparentfromthebeautifulBattles,anobservationalessaythatinvestigatesthetracesrecentconflictshaveleftinthelandscapeandthepeopleatfourdifferentsitesinEurope.<br/> Theechoesofwaralsoreverberateinpeacetime.Battlestakesapatientlook,sensitivetotragedyandcomedy,atthetracesofbattleinthelandscape.AbunkerinAlbaniausedasacattlestallbyafamily.OlderammunitionthatisexplodedbytheBelgianarmy.AnarmyofRussianseamstresseswhofabricateinflatablewarmaterial.AndatouristattractioninLatviawherepeoplecanpaytospendtimeinamilitarytrainingcamp.<br/> Tracesofbattlethatfindaplaceineverydaylife,whilealsodescribingsomethingoftheabsurdrelationshipsbetweenthetwo.ThisdebutbyFlemishdirectorIsabelleTollenaeretakesustoatwilightworldwherepresentandpast,warandplay,threatandinnocencecometogether,andobservesallthiswithasmuchtranquillityaseyefordetail.Againstthesedecors,ghostsfromthepastappearnaturally,buttheydon’tknowthewayeither.