Chechnya's struggle for independence has been going on since 1994. It probably escaped the attention of most people until the rebels struck inside Russia in Beslan, where 300 people, mainly children, were murdered on the first day of school. The 2006 film, Beslan: Three Days in September, shows that tragedy.
The thing that grabs you about this film is the fact that is seems so much a home movie. One of the three individuals, Ramzan, has a video camera that is with him always. He uses it to film Ruslan's family when he is not working. It is something that we can all relate to.
But, under the surface is an ominous portent. It seems that most of the time they are talking about people in the past. And they are.
Watching Ramzan film from his Aunt's apartment during the invasion, there are moments of levity when they are three hours from New Year's Day (1995), and they are talking of the fireworks outside.
But, such levity is rare as a depression creeps in over the people when they realize that war will not end.
Most Americans have no concept of war. This film brings it home and shows what a terrible tragedy the world faces.