The writing and directing debut of Anar Azimov, Six is not an adaptation of the popular Broadway show of the same name. Instead, the drama begins with six women sitting in a barrack all by themselves. They’re discussing a recent crime and realize that they are the only suspects, as no one else is in the room with them. Each person grills and gets grilled in return about the events of the day leading up to the murder. But, there’s an even more significant hurdle these women must contend with. See, they are prisoners in a labor camp run by the Nazis, and they hatched a plan to escape. But the escape is to happen this very night, meaning they must figure out the killer of the Nazi officer soon, or none of them will make it out alive.
The women are portrayed by Elena Myroshnychenko, Elena Novikova, Iryna Lukashova, Kateryna Kotova, Galyna Sviata, and Liubov Tyshchenko. The end credits don’t list who played who (nor does IMDb), but each actor does a brilliant job. Their nervousness is palpable, and each one’s vehement denial of wrongdoing rings true. A sudden outburst accusing the youngest because she was having an affair with the dead officer is played with the right amount of frustration, anger, and fear. The entire 68-minute runtime is played with exact control of emotions, which amps up the stakes.
“…they must figure out the killer of the Nazi officer soon, or none of them will make it out alive.”
Azimov directs Six with so much flair that it is shocking it’s his debut feature. The way the flashbacks are edited in to reveal more and more of the incident is engrossing. A twist late in the game makes total sense and generates even more stakes. The filmmaker weaves a tiny thread of hope throughout, as the possibility of escape is within their grasp. This detail, while seemingly minor, informs a lot of the well-defined characters’ motivations and actions.
Six is a lot like Women Talking if that film had stakes, characterization, context, or was, ya know, good. Azimov directs with style and confidence, crafting a tense atmosphere. The actors are brilliant, bringing rawness and vulnerability to their respective parts. While WWII tales can get stale, there are still stories worth being told of the harrowing events of that time; such is the case here.
For more information about Six, visit its Film Freeway page.
"…a lot like Women Talking if that film had stakes, characterization, context, or was, ya know, good."
