A PICTURE OF A BEAST PRECEDES THE BEAST

Video 15 mins

In the world where rural life is cruel and harder, the vibrant river causes tension in life of inhabitants, newcomers and a beast. The reason intervene a little as the film expresses thoughts and feelings on broken bonds between human and the world of nature and the beasts.
Surrounded by a dreamlike landscape and blunt realities of life by the river, the story of past and present intervenes. The river causes tension between the lives of inhabitants, a women and a beast. The river which used to be source of fresh water, nourishment and provided work to generations now has changed. It has become barren due to natural environment exploitation. For villagers, poaching is as a way to survive but casting lines with hooks into the river ends with nothing when there is no fish in water.

The water of fertility, that runs like blood in veins carries life inland is endangered. A man and his overexploitation kills life around. His perception of nature and the sphere of ghosts and beasts fades and only a few would sit, touch, meet and ponder but the fertility of the river becomes a memory of the past.

In the film the photography, the memories, the beast, the nature draw an apocalyptic picture of inevitable destruction.
In the women’s account fish in the river disappeared, will river disappear next? If so, will life in her and around her as well? Is the beast send by nature, that asks for attention?

The place

The setting is in rural Poland in the valley of Narew river. The agricultural lands of rich soil provide harvests of rye and corn but people’s exploitation and not abiding the regulations pollutes the river and underground water springs.

Symbols in film:

Water

Water of life and fertility. Amniotic fluid. Without her the Earth is a dry desert, a land of hunger and thirst. In the Greek world, the sources and rivers are divine from the beginning. Many myths refer to the deities of rivers and nymphs and the spring of life. In ancient Egypt, water was also given to the dead to enable them life in the underworld.

Plunging into water

Purifying water is practiced in the most diverse types of wash: from the most mundane and practical to the most sublime in various cults and rites.

In Ancient Egypt, statues of gods, pharaohs, priests, and the dead are abundantly watered. Washes are very important as a means of cleansing, which allows you to participate in worship.

A child

Innocence of the past, present and future

The beast

An instinct, a faun, a ghost of nature

A fish

Basic nourishment

Trees

Old masters

Whipping

Punishment for all matters a women considers she failed. Ignorance of the law of nature, ignorance of people, motherhood.

She: Gośka Ząbkowska
Beast/ He: Piotr Piasta
DOP: Marta Stysiak
Production manager: Marina Sawicka
Producer: Michał Winiarski