Stone as a narrator
The film "Memoria" has been made by Audiovisual Media and Digital Culture students: Michał Guzior and Magdalena Raczyńska. This audiovisual story was created as part of the course "Cinema-Eye: Analysis and Critique of Ocularcentrism," taught by Prof. Małgorzata Jakubowska. The film was screened at the international festival Les Regards de l'ICART. The jury recognised the work of these young filmmakers, awarding the film in the Engagement category.
The film was shot in a single day at the entrance to one of the staircases in the "Łódź Manhattan." Sound editing was the most demanding stage of production as the audio track is essentially the basis of "Memoria's" narrative
– explain the filmmakers.
A short story about the relationship between a woman and her newly met neighbour – presented from the unusual perspective of a stone lying beneath an apartment building is the result of this hard work. The creators employed a non-anthropocentric narrative form, inspired by reflections on the dominance of sight in culture and cinema. The stone, seemingly lifeless and indifferent, becomes a silent witness to everyday events and simultaneously a carrier of "stone memory" – a concept that straddles the line between science and poetic metaphor.
A festival opportunity for the students
The Les Regards de l'ICART festival enjoys considerable recognition among young filmmakers. However, "Memoria"'s selection for the Paris festival isn't the film's only success. The production has been also selected for the Italian VisiOn Film Festival and the online review Lift-Off Filmmaker Sessions. In addition, the film produced by representatives of the Faculty of Philology, University of Lodz was also screened at the “LU Motion Picture Festival,” organised by students of the Lawrence University in Appleton, USA.
We have put a lot of work, passion and heart into our film. Naturally, we wanted it to reach a wider audience, and short film competitions and festivals offer that opportunity. We hope this is just the beginning of its journey". Going to the festival in Paris was a wonderful experience. We received a very warm and welcoming welcome from the organisers, and seeing our film on screen in the city where cinema was born was an extraordinary experience. Even more so since "Memoria" won an award there
– adds Michał.
More information about the festival: Les Regards de l’ICART.
