A House Made of Splinters

Name: A House Made of Splinters
Genre: Documentary
Released: February 21, 2023
Duration: 87 min
Rating: 79
Cast: Anjelika Stolyarova, Marharyta Burlutska, Olga Tronova

2023

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Generally favorable reviews based on 10 Critic Reviews

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A House Made Of Splinters (US Trailer 1)

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Movie Details & Credits

Giant Pictures | Release Date (Streaming): February 21, 2023 | Not Rated

Starring: Anjelika Stolyarova, Marharyta Burlutska, Olga Tronova

Summary: Children and staff in a special kind of home: an institution for children who have been removed from their homes while awaiting court custody decisions. Staff do their best to make the time children have there safe and supportive.

Director: Simon Lereng Wilmont

Genre(s): Documentary

Rating: Not Rated

Runtime: 87 min

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Critic Reviews

100

Nicolas Rapold

Feb 22, 2023

A House Made of Splinters is made with such aching sensitivity that it’s a marvel a camera was used and not some form of mind-meld. Read full review

Alissa Wilkinson

Feb 21, 2023

There are no easy answers, but Simon Lereng Wilmont’s careful camerawork and clear rapport with the children lead to uncommonly candid footage and, occasionally, a sense of hope. Read full review

John Anderson

Jul 14, 2023

While inseparable from Ukraine and its echoes, the film argues quietly but convincingly that its story is not specific to its time and place, necessarily, but is rather about how traumatized children everywhere might respond, react and/or rebel. Read full review

The Daily Beast Nick Schager

Feb 21, 2023

Affords an intimate and wrenching view of a national collapsing under the weight of unbearable traumas, and of the young children who are the prime victims of that strain. Read full review

Hanna B.

Mar 7, 2023

A House Made of Splinters tells a story that needs to be told as loud as possible. While uncomfortable at times, the filmmaker is respectful and empathetic. Read full review

RogerEbert.com Brian Tallerico

Feb 21, 2023

Wilmont's film edges into emotional exploitation at times, but the raw moments he captures in this facility are a testament to the trust he clearly built with everyone there—and that ability to capture truth without interfering or manufacturing gives his film an undeniable emotional power. Read full review

The Film Stage Brianna Zigler

Nov 22, 2022

Since the quality of documentaries tends to hinge on how compelling its subject matter is, A House Made of Splinters is further complicated by the fact that Wilmont’s filmmaking is largely perfunctory. Thus its draw leans almost entirely on the children and their tattered lives. In this way it does feel a touch exploitative, even if the goal is to shine light on an overlooked, ongoing tragedy. Read full review

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Brent_Marchant

Mar 9, 2023

It’s patently unfair that anyone of a tender young age should have to endure the pain of life’s hardships. Growing up can be challenging enough in itself, but, when it’s compounded by such difficulties as parental abandonment, abuse, the death of loved ones and war, one can’t help but wonderIt’s patently unfair that anyone of a tender young age should have to endure the pain of life’s hardships. Growing up can be challenging enough in itself, but, when it’s compounded by such difficulties as parental abandonment, abuse, the death of loved ones and war, one can’t help but wonder how the children saddled with these ordeals are able to survive. Thankfully, there are individuals and organizations that are willing to step in and offer support. Such is the case with a special shelter in eastern Ukraine, located not far from the front lines of the Donbass conflict, designed to care for youngsters awaiting court and government agency decisions regarding their fates. It’s a place of both hope and sorrow but, most importantly, a wellspring of compassion to help see them through these trying times. Director Simon Lereng Wilmont’s Oscar-nominated documentary takes a candid, probing look at life in the facility, told through the eyes of residents and staff. This heart-tugging chronicle captures the joy of success stories and the sadness of those whose suffering never seems to end, as well as the courage of others who manage to soldier on in the face of their circumstances. It also depicts the keen sense of realism that the shelter’s residents develop at incredibly young ages, an awareness of the world that they shouldn’t have to face so early on in life. Their understanding of these circumstances ultimately either helps them cope with their conditions or sends them down paths from which recovery is nearly impossible, despite whatever guidance they receive from their caregivers. No matter which direction their lives may take, however, viewers can’t help but be moved by their stories, an expertly developed and eloquently nuanced aspect of the film that comes through loud and clear. Ideally, the film would have been stronger with a little more background about the facility itself – how it was established, how it’s funded, what drew the staff members to it – but, considering the essential nature of its mission, some might contend that such information is incidental by comparison. In addition, for those wondering about the impact of the Russian-Ukrainian war, it should be noted that this production was filmed before the start of the onslaught, but an update on the residents’ status is provided before the closing credits. It’s indeed tragic that this current conflict has only added to the already-existing list of trials and tribulations affecting these children, but, as the film observes, of all the virtues and vices present in our existence, hope is the last one to die, a sentiment that aptly reflects what this remarkable refuge is all about, no matter how difficult things may get.… Expand

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