Bardo

synopsis

“Bardo” is a Buddhist term for the state between death and rebirth, when a person's consciousness leaves the body and seeks a new form. Viera Čákanyová had a similar experience during dark therapy. Her short experimental film is an attempt to translate this transcendental experience, an encounter with another dimension of being, into images and words that are understandable even to those who have not descended into their own subconscious. While colours flow and textures blend into abstract images generated by artificial intelligence, the soundtrack features ambient music and an associative stream of the director's thoughts and feelings. The metaphysical journey does not lead to clear answers. However, it opens up space for perceiving what transcends language, reason, and the common understanding of reality.

“I can't decide between being and non-being, action and inaction. I have been stuck in this dilemma my whole life.” — quote from the movie

Before the screening on October 28 in the DIOD hall, there will be a launch of a new book by theorist Jana Dudková entitled Člověk na okrAI: Postantropocén Viery Čákanyovej. The book is published by the Slovak Film Institute's publishing department.

biography

Viera Čákanyová (born 1980) is an acclaimed Slovak documentary filmmaker who studied film in Bratislava and Prague. Her films FREM (2019) and Notes from Eremocene (2023) premiered at the Berlinale and have been screened at dozens of other festivals. She also works as a dramaturge and editor.

film details

director:	Viera Čákanyová
producer:	Matej Sotník
script:	Viera Čákanyová
music:	Marek Buranovský
script dramaturgy:	Martin Horyna, Klára Tasovská

contact

Alexandra Gabrižová / Disco Sailing
alexandra@discosailing.com