Road to the Oscars 2023. This documentary is nominated for 1 award and it´s best documentary. This doc floored me. I sat with me heart in my stomach the entire time and it might be one of the toughest watches I´ve done in a while. I think this is a really strong "fly on the wall" doc. Simon Lereng Wilmont really blends into the background and just let things happened no matter what they might be. He captures some really strong moments where you as the viewer can interpret them as you see fit. This is a tough watch as a fair warning, it had me constantly on the brink of tears and the subject matter of abused and forgotten kids is a heavy one.

In an institute in Ukraine for kids whose parents can´t take care of them. We follow the every day of the staff and kids. Listening to their stories and see their outcome after the 9 months they can stay whereafter they either has to go to an orphanage or a new family.

First, a few things I Didn't like about the doc. I really don´t like the current war is mentioned in promotional material and descriptions. This doc mentions the war once and what it does to the home and that´s it. This is a doc about the kids and their situations and nothing else. It feels like a cheap way to create interest and sets bad expectations for the doc in my opinion.

I didn't like some of the more artistic shots in this doc either. Not the senary shots but things like "this kid is gone; someone erases him from a board". It seems a bit too pretentious and artistic for a doc so intimated and grounded in real people. I know it looks great when you capture shots like that and I would totally do it too, but you remind the viewer that someone filmed and edited this, and it can break the immersion to me. This doc is so good at being anonyms, keep that up so we forget someone is holding a camera.

I really must applaud Wilmont here. He is such a patient and incredible documentarist here and clearly took his time with the kids and their situations. There are a few noticeable cuts but overall, it seems like Wilmont just filmed, stayed, and waited. This captures some real emotions from these kids and the patience it must have taken him to just stay on someone, so they'll forget his filming is incredible.

This is a devastating documentary to me. To see these kids, their situations and feelings really floored me and I cried and had my heart in my stomach the entire runtime. To realize these kids will probably grow up with the same issues as their parents as the doc also mentions is devastating and the feelings the kids show are haunting to me, even when they are happy. There are so many things they say they shouldn't, they use a lot of adult words, they are mad, sad, and happy but in some really tragic ways. The way they play and talk to each other is full of violence, abuse that probably sound like their parents and one kid takes care of his siblings at the home, while also smoking, making tattoos and cutting. These kids are shown with their real emotions and even though they might play it up for the camera now and again, it seems like Wilmont captured them in a way that is so authentic and devastating.

The doc has a really nice flow to it. It starts out showing some good stuff and then gut punches you with the reality of the kids lives and situations. The phone conversations with their parents, them saying goodbye, them being overjoyed when good things happen, the aftermaths of conversations where they just sit in silence and sadness. The doc really pulls you into their lives and your immediately pulled into their narrative and want them to succeed.

I´ve praised the docs intimate nature and it´s all up to the incredible patience and camerawork. Wilmont is just an observer here. He doesn't want to intrude or say anything even when he probably wanted to stop the kids or ask them something. He just films and let things happen. This creates this closed off intimate feeling where the documentarist disappears and let´s the subject and objects speak for themselves.

This is a reality check doc. It shows a terrible cycle of substance abuse and violence in the worst way possible. Even thought they want you to feel there is hope and a happy ending I just don´t really believe it. The doc shows a part of reality that is hard to swallow and digest, and when you see the state of these kids, it´s hard to believe there is a happy ending, but who knows.

A house made of splinters is a devastating and strong doc. It shows so many powerful emotions from kids that don't need to feel them. It´s a sad watch that will leave you floored, and it has no Mersey. It´s also extremely well filmed and the approach to this doc is perfect for what it wanted to show.

Oscar predictions: There are some really strong contenders this year for best documentary. I personally liked this more than Fire of Love but I would no be mad if any of them won. I haven't seen the rest yet, but as far as I can understand Navalny is also a strong contender. I want this to win so far from what I've seen and hey, it´s directed by a Dane, it´s nice t have some representation from my country at the Oscars.

Originally premiered at the 2022 Sundance Film Festival in the World Cinema Documentary Competition Selection.

"A House Made of Splinters" examines the 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. This documentary is pretty brutal and touching. The exploitation of children in the institution was well presented as the documentary focuses on how the children are being effected and their life isn't easy.

The camerawork and presentation is very well done and the soundtrack fits properly to the film's tone. Each children that is explored give interesting discussions about themselves, their families and sometimes horrifying confessions of what their parents are like and what they had seen through their eyes. The documentary isn't entirely depressing with some nice wholesome moments where we witness the children experience happiness, but the overall lore is pretty depressing. There are some pacing issues halfway in the film and some of the music is a bit cheesy but for the most part, it was effective.

For someone who has young relatives, this documentary was pretty tough to watch sometimes. But it's very important to be seen. I'd recommend it.

Rating: B+

A very touching film about children in a shelter. You get to follow some children during they stay, wich can be no more than 9 months.

I liked the film very much and was touched by it. It would have been the same even in different times, but now when Russia has attacked Ukraine 10 days ago and so many suffer badly. Those children don't have an easy life and now also the war. Do they have food, water and heating? Are they still alive? Those thoughts came to me when watching. It's such a cruel war. All wars are cruel, of course.

Thank you for this wonderful portrait of the children!