Review of Slogans (2001) by Daniel A — 01 May 2008

I caught Slogans on SBS on night while channel surfing. Set in Communist-era Albania, it is the story of the inhabitants of a small town, two school teachers, party apparatchicks, children and an illiterate peasant goat herder. Andre, a newly arrived school teacher is tasked with writing a Communist Party slogan on the side of a hill with whitewashed rocks. He cleverly chooses the shortest slogan, leaving his love interest, a fellow teacher, to create the longer slogan with her class.

Slogans is a film that explores the now well-worn theme of individuality versus conformism. Unlike other films that explore similar themes, Slogans doesn't take itself too seriously and get bogged down in self-righteous preaching. In fact, Slogans is filled with tragic dark humor, such as the incident when an illiterate goat herder unknowingly allows his goats to destroy part of on slogan. He is promptly declared an 'enemy of the people'. Another incident occurs when a young child makes a simple mistake regarding Communist ideology and an entire investigation takes place because of it.

Well this is a long review for an unknown film, but the film deserves praise, especially considering Albania does not have a stellar cinematic reputation.