The Permissibility of the Impossible

Inside 'Proving Ground' by Anatoly Petrov.

Proving Ground (1977) — also known as Polygon

Proving Ground shouldn’t feel as timely as it does. The film is 45 years old. It’s a product of the Cold War, and firmly in the realm of 20th century sci-fi. The political order that birthed it — the Soviet Union — hasn’t existed in over 30 years.

And yet, as we’re surrounded by news of war in Europe and automated killing machines on the way, the film might be more relevant than it ever was.

Proving Ground tends to surprise people. When we first watched it, years before Animation Obsessive started, it surprised us. It’s not quite “dissident animation,” but this is a haunting, anti-war parable that makes daring political comments. You wouldn’t foresee the USSR’s film censor board, Goskino, allowing something like this.