Pepik the Czech Goes to Poland In a Quest for Love of God
In the middle of Europe, two nations coexist side by side, close to one another in many ways and yet worlds apart. The Czechs are dedicated atheists, while the Poles are born as baptized Catholics. Czechs shake their heads in disbelief at Polish piety, while Poles hold Czechs in contempt for living without God. A Czech documentary crew sets out on a summertime pilgrimage across Poland in order to investigate through the camera the concrete situation regarding the notion of Czech atheism vs. Polish religion.
Wishing on a Star
According to a recent study, only 7% of the world population admits to believe in astrology. However, many of us have been caught sneaking at our horoscope. When questioned about such activity, we reply that we do it because it is fun, or because it is a nice way to break long office hours. We all agree that reading about our future is somehow comforting.
Among the people who have no problems confessing their faith in the Zodiac, there are some who believe that travelling to a specific destination on their birthday will change their lives. Behind the travelling choices of such group of birthday-globetrotters, there is a woman: the Neapolitan astrologist Luciana de Leoni d’Asparedo.
Luciana, 63, is one of the exponents of Active Astrology. As she likes to put it: it is a simple, but effective way to change your destiny by taking a trip on your birthday. Luciana's job is partly that of an esoteric strategist and partly that of a travel agent. While triangulating latitude, longitude and ephemerides on maps, she keeps and eye on the best offers on Skyscanner.
Luciana’s office is located in a crumbling castle of Aiello del Friuli. The village, not too far from the Venice Lagoon, is surrounded by corn fields and plenty of houses on sale. The agricultural and the real estate sectors have been struggling lately, but Luciana’s clients have been growing steadily. Women looking for love, confused teenagers, entrepreneurs on the verge of a crisis: these are the customers who ask Luciana to be prescribed a birthday trip.
Far from being an investigation into transcendence, the documentary is rooted in the contemporary historical time. All the character’s desires, in fact, have something in common, they are all “First World” birthday wishes that will appear small when compared to the vastness of the sky.
Underneath the humorous mood, the documentary intends to be a tender and empathic reflection of a very human need: longing for meaning in a cosmos filled with endless chaos.
Among the people who have no problems confessing their faith in the Zodiac, there are some who believe that travelling to a specific destination on their birthday will change their lives. Behind the travelling choices of such group of birthday-globetrotters, there is a woman: the Neapolitan astrologist Luciana de Leoni d’Asparedo.
Luciana, 63, is one of the exponents of Active Astrology. As she likes to put it: it is a simple, but effective way to change your destiny by taking a trip on your birthday. Luciana's job is partly that of an esoteric strategist and partly that of a travel agent. While triangulating latitude, longitude and ephemerides on maps, she keeps and eye on the best offers on Skyscanner.
Luciana’s office is located in a crumbling castle of Aiello del Friuli. The village, not too far from the Venice Lagoon, is surrounded by corn fields and plenty of houses on sale. The agricultural and the real estate sectors have been struggling lately, but Luciana’s clients have been growing steadily. Women looking for love, confused teenagers, entrepreneurs on the verge of a crisis: these are the customers who ask Luciana to be prescribed a birthday trip.
Far from being an investigation into transcendence, the documentary is rooted in the contemporary historical time. All the character’s desires, in fact, have something in common, they are all “First World” birthday wishes that will appear small when compared to the vastness of the sky.
Underneath the humorous mood, the documentary intends to be a tender and empathic reflection of a very human need: longing for meaning in a cosmos filled with endless chaos.
Amoosed
The director of the movie gets possessed by Moose, the ancient animal totem. She sets out on a journey searching for an answer to why it happened. She follows similarly moose-possessed (“amoosed”) people around the world. Her odyssey lasts for 7 years and takes her from rare Czech moose to Russian moose domestication attempts through Swedish moose living in people’s households to remote indigenous Canada. It turns out that it was Hana’s ancestors who led her to meet the Mikmaq first nation, who see the moose as their sacred spirit animal and who have an important message for Hana as well.
The Island of Freedom
Set against the backdrop of the political events of the past five years, The Island of Freedom portrays the daily lives of four characters (Taiwanese, Hong Kongnese and Eastern Europeans - Czech and Ukrainian) living in Taiwan and their contributions to the defense of freedom and democratic principles that Taiwan gained, despite its complex and contentious history.
In recent years, Eastern European countries have shown their support of Taiwan by turning away from the powerful influence of China and engaging with Taiwan on a higher political level. This offers insight into the historical parallels between the Eastern European states and Taiwan's struggles with its big communist "brother" across the border.
The Island of Freedom, a feature-length documentary film, thus raises topical questions about the complex geopolitical climate in East Asia and Eastern Europe - a region that experienced authoritarianism during the Cold War. The growing threat of an attack on Taiwan and the ongoing war in Ukraine link the two regions with unprecedented intensity. Through intimate human stories, the film unravels the various attempts to find one's own identity, thematized through the characters of Taiwanese, Hongkongese and Eastern Europeans living in Taiwan. For them, and for all of us, the issue of Taiwanese self-determination and historical experiences are of utmost relevance and importance.
In recent years, Eastern European countries have shown their support of Taiwan by turning away from the powerful influence of China and engaging with Taiwan on a higher political level. This offers insight into the historical parallels between the Eastern European states and Taiwan's struggles with its big communist "brother" across the border.
The Island of Freedom, a feature-length documentary film, thus raises topical questions about the complex geopolitical climate in East Asia and Eastern Europe - a region that experienced authoritarianism during the Cold War. The growing threat of an attack on Taiwan and the ongoing war in Ukraine link the two regions with unprecedented intensity. Through intimate human stories, the film unravels the various attempts to find one's own identity, thematized through the characters of Taiwanese, Hongkongese and Eastern Europeans living in Taiwan. For them, and for all of us, the issue of Taiwanese self-determination and historical experiences are of utmost relevance and importance.