Osadne

Osadné is a tiny speck on the easternmost border of Slovakia which, due to a death count that far outweighs its birth count, is slowly slipping in to oblivion. Still its remaining 190 inhabitants are proud that they are part of the European Union, and this lovely little absurdist documentary shows its tin-pot political and religious apparatus as a microcosm for lager towns (and countries, even), where officials constantly bicker over where money should be spent and are quite happy to channel their meagre funds towards drawing in the tourists to the drab surrounding foothills. As an investigation into identity, town pride and the preservation of archaic values, this is a humorous and heartfelt pleasure.