Philosophy of a Knife Review

When Andrey first told me that Philosophy of a Knife was going to run for over 4 hours, I actually thought he was losing the plot. the idea of an independent film maker, living in a country which actively discourages thinking outside of the box even considering making a film longer than Gone with the Wind, seemed complete folly. To follow his two hallucinogenic nightmares; Nails and Visions of Suffering, with a drama about WW2 was a gamble few would be brave or reckless enough to take.

Some six months ago I saw a very rough, early cut of Philosophy of a Knife and most of my fears were allayed. Now, more than four years since Andrey started making it, I have the honour of being the first person outside Russia to see the completed film.

Philosophy of a Knife tells the story of Unit 731 through newsreel archival footage, recollections of one of the key figures in the Khabarosk war crimes trials (Anatoliy Protasov) and the dramatic interpretation of actual events which occurred, seen through the eyes of a nurse, narrated by Manoush. The archive footage is assembled with the skill and confidence of someone who is intimately familiar with his subject, setting the scene for the story. Anatoliy Protasov’s testimonies add a unique authenticity to the project. Although he speaks only in Russian, the subtitled narrative of a gentleman in his mid eighties, who has seen more in his life than most of us would experience in a dozen lifetimes, is fascinating and compelling.

Some of the atrocities which were perpetrated in the living hell which was Unit 731, are re-enacted in a gruesome, unflinching manner which will delight gore-hounds and disturb those coming to the film for the socio/historical content. Amidst some of the genuinely disgusting scenes in this film, which include rape, abortion, skinning alive and some hardcore dentistry, are some poignant scenes that show the duality of human nature; cruelty and compassion. Philosophy of a Knife is not an anti-Japanese film, it doesn’t point fingers and that was never the intention

The cast perform their roles admirably, considering Andrey uses both experienced and amateur actors. He has a knack of bringing the best out in everyone he works with. The attention to detail is quite remarkable. While remembering that this is a very low budget film, the look and feel of Unit 731 is spot on.

Philosophy of a Knife has consumed Andrey Iskanov for the past 4 years. What started as a concept for a movie, inspired by his own personal interest in the second world war and the fact that he hails from the city of Khabarosk, on the far east of Russia, where the infamous war crimes trials were held in 1949, became an obsession; an idée fixe. Driven to find the truth about what really happened inside the infernal region that was Unit 731, Andrey threw himself into research and uncovered facts previously unknown to the rest of the world. Andrey’s trump card was getting Anatoliy Protasov involved with the project. Anatoliy Protasov not only grew up in Harbin, which was where Unit 731 was based, but he was a key figure in the Khabarovsk war trials, making him now one of the only living people to have been privy to the truth of what really happened in Unit 731.

Philosophy of a Knife is a film that Andrey had to make and now it’s out of his system and soon to be unleashed on the world, I quite honestly don’t know what people will make of it. Personally, I love it; I think it’s a remarkable achievement. If you separate the different elements of the film and look at them individually, you have the archive footage, which is interesting and informative and the interviews with Anatoliy Protasov, which are historically fascinating. Then you have what is essentially Andrey’s story telling based on true events. You put those elements together in a four hour film and you have probably the most ambitious independent film ever made. Does it work as a movie? Well, it does for me, but then I’m a fan of horror and war films and an amateur historian. If you are up for a challenge then I urge you to give Philosophy of a Knife a try, I can guarantee that you have never seen anything like it and probably never will again… that is until Philosophy of a Knife 2 is made of course! S.J.T.

Philosophy of a Knife. 2008

Directed by Andrey Iskanov

Exclusive Andrey Iskanov interview HERE