Destruction
Igor Smola
Azerbaijan / Col / 22'29" In Azerbaijani with English subtitles
A wounded boy bursts into an artist's studio, gushing blood on the floor. She tries to help him to no avail. A policeman arrives at the crime scene who does not believe her story. He asks strange questions, and reality slowly distorts, turning into a cat's dream.
Artist's Statement
I thought of making a film in a tiny art gallery, which became our set. It's about a woman's perfect life breaking apart, shown simply, focusing on her emotional shift to subtle distress. The film is unique for showing a cat's view; the cat knows all but shares nothing. It's mostly in one small space, made beautiful with special lenses. The story is told without real names or places, focusing on visual style over plot. Actors understood their whole life stories, not just their parts, making their actions meaningful. It's about seeing the story differently, even if not everything is clear.
Juror's Comment
The visuals and atmosphere are strong, but I found the plot a bit unclear at first. Perhaps it alludes to unexpected white terror. (Adam Wong)
