Dust 2003

Dust opens in a dimly lit room where Edge has stealthily made his way in, searching for hidden treasures. As he scours the seemingly empty space, he stumbles upon old photographs, some dating back to the early 20th century. His moment of exploration is abruptly interrupted by Angela, the elderly resident of the place, who surprises him. In a moment of desperation, he strikes her, but before he can make his getaway, she produces a large antique six-shooter, still very much functional, and begins to share the intricate details of her life story.

Her narrative, shown through stunning black-and-white visuals, centers around two brothers: the boisterous outlaw Luke and the morally upright, religious Elijah. The tale unfolds in the Old West, where a violent dispute arises over their shared affection for a prostitute, eventually leading to Elijah marrying her. This act stirs a deep, seething jealousy within Luke, prompting his departure to Macedonia. After watching a silent film that highlights the chaos of the region—mirroring his own turmoil—Luke sees an opportunity for adventure and fortune, particularly under the shadow of a notorious bandit known as Teacher, who has a substantial bounty on his head.

As Mr. Manchevski artfully navigates through these intertwined stories, he sometimes flows seamlessly between the narratives, while at other times, he jarringly cuts from one scene to another with brutal force. The visceral violence, featuring gunfights and ferocious brawls, bursts forth in both storylines, painting a vivid picture of chaos and confusion that is meant to ignite the senses.

Upon Luke’s arrival in Macedonia, the screen is awash with vibrant, warm desert colors that offer an unexpected sense of comfort amidst the foreign surroundings. This stylistic choice hints at Luke’s unreliable perspective, much like Angela’s, where the essence of emotion takes precedence over mere factual recounting in Dust. The filmmaker strives to capture the tumultuous feelings of being torn between two worlds—a sentiment echoed by both Luke and Edge. In his relentless pursuit of cash, Edge faces grave peril from a pair of thugs who are slowly and callously dismantling his body as he attempts to repay his debts.