28th Ji.hlava International Documentary Film Festival

24. 10.–2. 11. 2025
Log inČeštinaEnglish
Grey Zoneplay
Grey Zone
Grey Zone
Grey Zone
Grey Zone

Grey Zone

Daniela Meressa Rusnoková / Slovakia / 2024 / International Premiere / 75 min.


synopsis

Some doctors refer to the situation of babies born long before term as a grey zone. At 24 weeks, the fetus is not yet legally perceived as a full human being and the pregnancy can be terminated prematurely. This introspective documentary puts us in the position of a mother inextricably linked to her child who, directly from birth, is given only slim chances of survival by the doctors. The film's tribute to mothers and families of premature babies stands out for the harrowing yet disarming honesty with which the director speaks of her own feelings of fear, humiliation, hopelessness, and hope as her son makes further progress.

“Through the intimate confession of a mother, the documentary portrays the often traumatic reality of premature birth, the special care for a premature newborn or later a child with special needs or disabilities.”

Source quote: Film profile at AVF

biography

Daniela Meressa Rusnoková (1980) is a Slovak photographer and filmmaker. Her documentary work focuses on social issues within different minorities and cultures. From 2000 to 2003, she participated in ethnographic research in Roma settlements in Slovakia and her photographs were published in the book Phurikane giľa.

more about film

director: Daniela Meressa Rusnoková
producer: Jana Belišová
script: Daniela Meressa Rusnoková, Zuzana Mojžišová
photography: Radka Šišuláková, Jonathan Ryan King, Elisabeth Meressa, Pavol Pekarčík, Tereza Michalová
editing: Alexandra Gojdičová, Tereza Michalová, Jonathan Ryan King, Mária Hirgelová
music: Lenka Šiller, Ivan Šiller
sound: Richard Fűlek
sound design: Richard Fülek
co-producer: Slovenská televízia a rozhlas, Meressa Company, Punkchart Films
executive producer: Daniela Meressa Rusnoková

contact

Jana Belišová / Žudro
zudro@zudro.sk

Tereza Smetanová / FILM EXPANDED
adam.straka@filmexpanded.com

Screening time

Sunday 27. 10. 2024, 17:00

Kino Dukla – Reform

Monday 28. 10. 2024, 10:00

DIOD

Sunday 03. 11. 2024, 10:00

Kino DKO I

Film at festival

premiere type:International Premiere
festival edition:2024
section:Ji.hlava Online, First Lights
awards:Nejlepší sound design
Nejlepší film z visegrádského regionu
Nejlepší dokumentární debut nebo druhý dlouhometrážní film
language:Slovak
subtitles:English
colour:Colour

Info

director:Daniela Meressa Rusnoková
original title:Šedá zóna
country:Slovakia
year:2024
running time:75 min.

Festival partners

Ministerstvo kultury
Fond kinematografie
Město Jihlava
Kraj Vysočina
Creative Europe Media
GEMO
Česká televize
Český rozhlas
Aktuálně.cz
Respekt
Dafilms

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