Fest Track On Sirk TV Film Review: DUST [Berlinale - Berlin, Germany]
The concept of "Dust" [Competition] might seem antithetical in modern times but only a few years ago it was on the cutting point of technology. It is about a time of accountability measured in paper but just on the cusp of digital revolution with two different men: Geert [Arieh Worthalter] and Luc [Jan Hammenecker], one a pitchman, one a technologist but both going down for a company because they got ahead of themselves. The tech at thought is speech recognition software in 1999, which may seem trite now but was on the cutting edge of technology then. This film, sans a sense of humor. feels similar in a way to "Blackberry" which Jay Baruchel did a few years back. That was about the path. This is about the dismantling. The film basically follows for the most part the night of these two characters: Geert and Luc, separately from the time they leave the office until the morning. Many different choices can be made about how they want to reflect and deal with life (or what they might do to assuage or throttle the situation). Geert is more materialistic though we do see glimpses of empathy and generosity in between his posturing. This is most keenly seen with his driver but the irony of the waiting is what is interesting to see. It is almost like giving an epilogue to something he doesn't know might happen. Geert plans and yet there is inevitability to his actions.
A different choice might have dictated a different outcome and things would have turned out differently anyway. Luc on the other hand is much more grounded but completely not in control. He is trying to do good but the bad is just one step ahead of him at all times. As his night devolves, it just becomes one mess after another that he can't fix. His tasks are incomplete but not for his want of trying to get them fulfilled. His wife knows what he did but still tries to protect others, and tries to make sure he ties up loose ends specifically witb his estranged daughter. What is interesting is only after he hits rock bottom and lost all hope and completes almost nothing, does he realize he is truly alone. The last moment of course is specific in its irony, especially after where Geert lands on his next to last stop. That detail beyond anything binds these men. Their professional lives are over but the idea of what is the bigger fall becomes less so in the guise of what they might think is really important. "Dust" is about those times beyond the control where the way it plays out in the choices sometimes doesn't change the outcome but perhaps changes the perception. B
By Tim Wassberg
