Dve materi: A rough, quiet watch

Is this for you?

If you need your weekends light and breezy, skip Dve materi entirely. It’s a movie that sits in the corner and stares at you while you’re trying to eat your dinner.

But, if you’re the type of person who likes to watch characters just fall apart in real time, you might find something here. People who hate slow-burn misery will probably want to turn it off after the first ten minutes.

The whole thing feels like it was filmed in a house where nobody ever opens the curtains. It’s gray, it’s damp, and it’s deeply uncomfortable.

Small, painful things

There is a specific scene where Yulia just stands by a window for way longer than feels necessary. You can see the dust motes dancing in the light, and for a second, I thought the projector had stopped. It’s uncomfortably still. ⏳

The acting is… well, it’s not flashy. Nobody is doing big, loud monologues about how much their life hurts. They just kind of look tired. Like they’ve been awake for three days straight.

I was reminded a little bit of the atmosphere in Mothers of Men, though this one feels much smaller and more trapped. The walls are closing in on Yulia, and the camera doesn't bother to help her find an exit.

The middle section drags

Somewhere around the middle, the plot decides to stop moving entirely. There’s a lot of walking into kitchens, staring at tea cups, and sighing. I get it, she’s sad, but we don't need to count every single breath she takes.

Maybe it’s meant to be poetic? I don’t know. It just felt like I was waiting for the bus in the rain.

• The lighting in the hallway is genuinely unsettling.
• Yulia’s coat looks like it hasn't been cleaned since 1910.
• The silence is louder than the dialogue.

There’s a moment with a small toy on the floor that honestly made my chest tighten up. It’s not a big dramatic reveal or a twist, just a toy. Sometimes that’s enough to ruin your whole day, right? 🧸

It’s not a perfect film. Sometimes the cuts are jarring, and the framing makes you feel like you’re watching a play from the cheap seats. But there’s a grit to it that I actually kind of respect. It doesn’t try to be pretty for the sake of it.

It’s a tough watch. Not because it’s confusing, but because it feels a little too close to real life at times. Don't go in expecting a happy ending or even a satisfying one. Just go in expecting to feel a bit drained.