Reticence | Experimental

Marija Lučić

Germany

SINOPSE

Life is passing by with more and more questions, but the answers we will never find in words. Silence speaks louder, and what remains is the observation of the given moment. If you think that time is circular, and you get born, and you die every day then you are left with nothing else than living in today.

“reticence” (2020) is a short poetic film about transiency, touching metaphysical points of life and death, and the connection and meaning of those two worlds. These thoughts were visually translated by combining real images with digital solutions. The real images are presenting a living swan, a dead swan, and a willow tree. Effects such as slow loss of the tree’s color or overlayed images of the living and dead swan are added gently. Also, the sound has a significant role, or to be precise, the vocals. The whole video is based on the rhythm of the spoken text, which is an interpretation of Daniil Kharms’ poetry. The images and the effects are changing while following the vocals, which becomes a collage of sound in the end. It is a “swan song,” where, regarding the myth, swans are singing only before they die. Because of the silence during their lifetime, the film is called “reticence.” Also, in the film, the teacher reminded silent, after the student asked him: “Is there anything on earth which would have meaning and would even change the course of events not only on earth but in other worlds?”

The film was made at a cinematography workshop mentored by Fred Kelemen and organized by Kino Klub Split.

The spoken text in the film is an adaptation of Daniil Kharm’s poetry.