The scorching sun, the thick sandstorm, the unknown enemy, and the endless wait. Luka consists only of things that cannot be grasped with one hand. In the endless desert landscape that is not fully captured on the screen, the young sniper Luka and the isolated Fort Kairos are placed in the continuous waiting time. Since the enemies from the north may attack someday, here in Kairos strictly controls the soldiers’ every move. Violation is death. Luka, who was assigned to cleaning and maintenance, is recognized for his skills and becomes the elite sniper of his dreams, and his awkward relationship with his colleagues gradually develops. The film may seem like a growing-up story of the new soldier. Still, it is based on Dino Buzzati’s novel The Tartar Steppe and aims at the enormous absurdity of war itself, presenting an invisible enemy. Fanatical vigilance to the outside erases the individual’s humanity. Loyal soldiers crumble and become part of the desert, never knowing what they are fighting against. The only thing that brings vitality to this desolate land is, surprisingly, concrete gestures based on friendship and solidarity. These intimate and sensual physical interactions become the most potent weapon against rigid language. [Programmer SON Sinae]