Mushroom Seconds

Aleš Pojar / Czech Republic / 2026 / World Premiere / 84 min.

synopsis

Both poems and mushrooms conceal their essence beneath the surface. The poet and mushroom hunter Petr Hruška knows this all too well. His portrait unfolds to the rhythm of everyday life, as he spends time with family and friends, fries mushrooms or strolls through the streets of Ostrava, reminiscing about the now-defunct 24-hour bars. His participation in literary events both at home and abroad is characterised by the same effortless ease. Ordinary situations and encounters form the backdrop for Hruška’s reflections on ageing, the turbulent geopolitical situation, and the ability to open up to others. Although the moments from the poet’s life are in no way stylised, the observant camera transforms many of them into poetic images.

“All art is vandalism, because it destroys the established order and seeks to create a new one.”

biography

Aleš Pojar (2000) is a Czech director and screenwriter. He graduated from Creative Hill College in Zlín and is currently studying film directing at Tomáš Baťa University. In his documentary films, he strives to offer a sensitive observation of unstylised reality.