East Coast Premiere

Barriers are tricky things. Some are imaginary, reinforced by ideology, socialization and resignation. Others are physical, manifesting as rivers, walls, or “fences.” Georgi Lazarevski’s THIS WAY UP confronts political, religious and social barriers that creep up on—and finally separate—one neighborhood from another.

The Our Lady of Sorrows nursing home outside of Jerusalem suddenly finds itself on the “wrong” side of the wall intended to separate Israelis from Palestinians. The stories in the film unfold as the wall enters the picture and threatens to occupy it entirely. Geographical divisions prompt personal ones, as family members find it increasingly difficult to access their loved ones’ residences. Meanwhile, some locals resist the separation by climbing over the barriers and eluding the military.

Although the wall is a dominant force in the film, the nursing home residents are equally potent. Their routines, eccentricities, persnickety mannerisms and political views all come to the fore in shocking and even humorous ways. They are living in an age of crisis at the end of their lives, and each faces (or is completely oblivious to) the turmoil in his or her own way.

Beautifully shot and eloquently constructed, THIS WAY UP interrogates the wall and, indeed, all walls that purport to protect when they only ensconce bitter divisions.

—Deborah L. Jaramillo