Film Review: ‘Rule of Two Walls’ is a Moving Look at Art Surviving During Wartime

Being an artist in the best of times is hard. Putting your heart and soul into art is an all-encompassing obsession. Now, imagine doing anything artistic while a war is raging around you? I’d give up and cower in a corner. For those showcased in the documentary Rule of Two Walls, however, it’s all the more reason to create. The results is a moving doc that shows you that the worst of times can sometimes bring out the best in art.

Rule of Two Walls manages to be deeply of the moment, as it focuses on the war in Ukraine, while also being universe in the need to make art. Here, art is an act of defiance, showing that the Ukrainian people won’t have their talents denied. In fact, art is nothing less than a form of fighting back for these brave folks.

The documentary is seen through the eyes of a group of Ukrainian artists who did not flee when Russia invaded. Instead, they remained in the country in order to continue making art as a way of resisting. We see live music performances, paintings, street art, and more as ways not just of dealing with tragedy, but by defying the juggernaut in front of them.

At the same time, the doc itself is part of the art here, as well as the resistance being put forth by the people of Ukraine. By the end, we’re also considering what it means to make a film in wartime. It’s not the first movie to do so, but it is doing it in a way somewhat different than we’re used to seeing.

Filmmaker David Gutnik is deeply passionate about this story. Deep in it with his subjects, the anger, compassion, and desire to create is in every frame. Now, are there limitations to what’s able to be done, or even shown? Sure. Does it limit the effectiveness of the documentary filmmaking on display? Not in the slightest.

Rule of Two Walls will stay with anyone who sees it. Whether you’re passionate about art, invested in the war in Ukraine, or just want to see creativity and peace, there’s something for you here. Quietly, this could prove to be one of the lasting documentaries of this era. Especially for Ukrainians, this will mean quite a bit.

SCORE: ★★★