Spirits and Rocks: an Azorean Myth
Switzerland, Portugal / Documentary / 14' / HD / B&W / 2020
On a volcanic island, inhabitants are caught in an unending cycle: the threat of impending eruptions and earthquakes, and the burden of past traumas loom over them. Some draw upon myth and religious beliefs to interpret their precarious situation, while others demonstrate resilience, rebuilding their villages from the volcanic rocks. Mirroring the ethereal atmosphere of the island’s landscapes, the film gradually takes on the appearance of the stories it recounts.
Director: Aylin Gökmen
Script: Aylin Gökmen
Director of Photography: Marianna Vas
Producer: Victor Candeias, Aylin Gökmen
Musician: Thomas Geissl
Editing: Aylin Gökmen
Sound: Etienne Curchod, Joao Alves
Cast: Hellen Torres (voice-over)
CV
Aylin Gökmen is a Swiss-Turkish filmmaker who earned a B.A. in philosophy and modern French from the University of Lausanne and an M.A. in documentary filmmaking from the DocNomads Erasmus Mundus program. Combining a documentary and literary approach, her works revolve around themes of memory, imagination and landscape. In 2020, she co-founded A Vol d’Oiseau, a production company dedicated to the development of various Swiss and international projects.
Filmography
Spirits and Rocks: an Azorean Myth 2020, Sun Cream 2017
Festivals Attended
Spirits and Rocks an Azorean Myth: Locarno Film Festival, Sundance Film Festival
Sun Cream: Minsk International Film Festival, Zinebi International Festival of Documentary and Short Film