Perhaps we no longer believe in the ancient gods who said that children inherit the consequences of their ancestors’ sins. And yet, the sad legacy of parents’ violence is a very real fact beyond any beliefs or superstitions. ‘Ruins‘ is a short film that explains this generational tragedy following the emotional decline of two young men marked by their father’s murderous acts. After all, what else is a tragedy but the inability to break the vicious circle of perpetual cruelty? Vagelis Karampasoglou and Alexandros Saoulidis tackle a theme that is as familiar as it is necessary, especially in the context of a present in which toxic masculinity and femicide have become social problems whose scale is shocking. Thus, beyond the psychological consistency of the relationship between the two brothers, the short film is an excellent opportunity to open a debate on pressing issues that risk becoming “normalized” in a society indifferent to the suffering of others.
Lazaros deludes himself into thinking he can accept his past by turning his trauma into humorous material. But as he prepares for a stand-up comedy show, a chance encounter with his brother throws him into turmoil. How will the two be able to repair their relationship, considering a criminal father who has poisoned their lives?
The psychological drama orchestrated by Vagelis Karampasoglou and Alexandros Saoulidis is, in fact, a race against time in which the protagonist tries to come to terms with himself. The narrative alertness is balanced, however, by introspective dialogue that transcends the coherence of the real world in a final confrontation with the past. Emotional and often visceral, the truths revealed by the characters not only about themselves but also about the society in which we live, build the cinematic construct in a state of furious urgency. In a succession of crepuscular images articulated on a dense and eloquent script, ‘Ruins’ has the scope of a feature film and the force of a manifesto about the struggle against silence in the face of everyday violence.
