Mom
As a Mexican Tzotzil I grew up between the sacrality both of Guadalupe Virgin and Mother Earth. As a son, I grew up among the derision of not having a father and blaming my mother for it. ‘Mom’ is a dialogue between mother and son exploring their contradictions, knowing and recognizing each other, and reflecting on naturalized violence and its reproduction.
‘‘a visual breath of air, a caress for the senses, and also a deep and painful crying out of unspoken truths." - Los Angeles Times
Guapo'y
Celsa covers her skin with roots and leaves from her jungle-like garden. She wants to heal. She still feels prison and torture endured 45 years ago in a concentration camp in Paraguay. However, the past echoes; the country is ruled by the son of the former dictator's right-hand man.
"The beauty of nature, which provides the herbs she carefully gathers, contrasts starkly with the horrific memories....The past seeps into the present" - IDFA, **Winner**, Special Mention, Best First Feature
Pongo Calling
Štefan Pongo is a Roma lorry driver. Fifteen years ago, he emigrated from the Czech Republic to the UK with his family, to shield them from open racial discrimination. The children have since graduated from university and the family is doing well, but hateful sentiments from the old country continue to have an impact. When the Czech president claims that the Roma are work-shy, Štefan asks other Roma to send him photographs on social media of them at work. Receiving thousands of photos, Štefan becomes a well-known media figure, fighting online battles with the ‘haters’, but at a cost to his personal life.
"a nuanced gem...centring on an ordinary man with extraordinary determination, Tomáš Kratochvíl’s documentary shows how one simple video can ignite a revolutionary movement." - Guardian
What Remains on the Way
LO QUE QUEDA EN EL CAMINO tells the story of Lilian and her four children as they migrate in search for a better life. The family leaves Guatemala, joining a caravan of thousands of other people trying to reach the Mexico-US border. Being a single mother, this is Lilian’s best chance to make the dangerous journey.
"Suddenly the question arises whether her goal is really this rich country. Isn’t it rather about finally standing up to male dominance and traditional gender roles? It’s very obvious that one thing remained on Lilian’s arduous way: Fear has yielded to a new self-confidence." - DOK Leipzig, **Winner** Honourable Mention.
Moosa Lane
Moosa Lane is a personal family epic, where the director looks back at the history of her two families over the course of 15 years in Karachi and Copenhagen. A cinematic essay of belonging, human worth, life, love and death.
The director grew up in Denmark with her Pakistani father and Norwegian mother. At the age of 25, she decides to examine her roots in Pakistan through the lens of her camera. During the following 15 years, life in Moosa Lane changes drastically while the contrasts of her two worlds emphasise the missing bridges, on a global scale of inequality and human worth. Us and them.
"builds a bridge across time and place....a personal family story in wide format, where all emotions are allowed to color the canvas along the way." - CPH:DOX, Next:Wave Award, Honorary Mention.