Resilience

synopsis

This film, which straddles the line between lyrical essay and environmental detective story, follows a couple who have learned to listen to the silence of the Czech countryside with extraordinary sensitivity. Klára and her dogs search for people who are poisoning endangered birds of prey, while Pavel mows spring meadows by hand and restores wetlands damaged by drought and deforestation. They perceive the natural ecosystem as an integral part of themselves and believe that it makes sense to protect it, even if it seems like a futile struggle. In the slow rhythm of landscape changes, accompanied by the sounds of wind, birds, and music coming directly from the earth, this film, inspired by the ideas of cultural ecologist David Abram, asks whether it is still possible to restore the balance between humans and nature; a balance that is disappearing before our eyes more quickly than we are able to understand it.

“We say that drought and bark beetles are responsible for the destruction of forests. We tend to simplify things like this. It's probably natural. But each of us, even the most ardent of foresters, knows that the reality is different.” — quote from the film

biography

Tomáš Elšík (born 1986) is a Czech director and editor. He graduated from FAMO in Písek and then FAMU in Prague. He made his directorial debut with a portrait of Tel Aviv's Central Bus Station (2018), which was screened at the Sheffield festival and won an award at Ji.hlava. In addition, he works as a dramaturge, creates large-format exhibitions, and is a carpenter.

film details

director:	Tomáš Elšík
producer:	Jitka Kotrlová
photography:	Tomáš Elšík
editing:	Mariana Kozáková
music:	Šimon Herrmann
sound design:	Dominik Dolejší
co-producer:	Jordi Niubo, Věra Krincvajová
script dramaturgy:	Tomáš Potočný

contact

Jitka Kotrlová / Frame Films
jitka@framefilms.cz