Using smart audio design and gorgeous cinematography, ‘Viktor’ is a cinematic experience worth watching

By Keyvan Mohammadi Rad

In warfare, we are often exposed to three main perspectives: the leader, the soldier and the citizen. The leader is the face of a nation for both soldiers and citizens. They are the voice of the people during conflict and make decisions that shape its course. The soldiers are citizens who fight for their nation. They have their own reasons as to why — patriotism or conscription are just a few among many. Finally there’s the citizen, the average person. Most of us experience conflict as spectators, watching from the outside on news networks or social media.

However, one overlooked experience is that of people with disabilities or impairments — conditions they may have been born with or developed over time. Such is the case with deafness, which can occur due to genetic variations, aging or injury.

Viktor is a documentary feature about a deaf person’s perspective looking into the chaos of the Russia-Ukraine War. The war itself doesn’t comprise the totality of the conflict. Instead, the film touches on the atrocities of the war through the perspective of how one can contribute regardless of their disability. Viktor himself is a photographer. He loves samurai movies, owns some katanas, and has a cat. He has his own interests, further cementing how he is like all of us in some way.

When the war began, Viktor wanted to get involved but was denied due to his disability. All he wanted was to make his father proud, regardless of having no control over his condition. This is why the film is presented in black and white. The colour scheme relates to the images he takes and the connection to his father, symbolizing how he begins to see the world as black and white ever since his passing.

The film details the experiences of being deaf most effectively through its sound design, which was worked on by the same team behind Sound of Metal (2019). The soundscape gives us more insight into the experience of being deaf. The cuts between clear conversations and muffled, unintelligible words simulate what it may be like to live with hearing loss. This makes the experience more intimate with the viewers as at times, we are thrust into his perspective at times with narration being illustrated along it. 

If you are interested in a perspective not often portrayed in mainstream film, Viktor is a must-watch. 

Viktor runs at a length of 1 hour and 29 minutes. Directed by Olivier Sarbil, the film premiered in Canada during the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.