Whispers of Fire & Water
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Theatrical Screenings
Kinoteka 3
Kinoteka 2
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Film description
Shiva is an audio installation artist who travels to Jharia, the heart of Eastern India’s coal mining landscape, a place where coal fires have been burning for over a century. Driven by an insatiable desire to record the earth's dwindling sounds, he finds himself immersed in a harsh landscape, where the industrial machinery and natural elements clash and haunting echoes seem to transcend the present moment. In a world where nature's whispers hold the weight of impending change, Shiva’s artistic journey begins to blur the lines between creation and destruction, reality and imagination, sound and silence.
The film, directed with a profound focus on environmental urgency, places sound at the heart of its storytelling. The director's fascination with the interplay of sound and landscape drives the narrative, exploring how the impressions left by sound can shape our understanding of fragile ecosystems. Immersive and atmospheric, the film amplifies the tension between industrial forces and nature's raw elements, creating an experience where every sound and flicker of fire lingers with a deeper meaning.
Lubdhak Chatterjee
Lubdak Chatterjee is an Indian filmmaker and sound designer, making his feature debut with Whispers of Fire & Water – which premiered at the 2023 Locarno Film Festival. Prior to his debut, he directed a documentary and a short film, both exploring Indian culture and philosophy through the lens of sound. With his first feature, Chatterjee establishes himself as a fresh voice in Indian cinema, using sound as a key storytelling element, and crafting a work that blends environmental themes with sensory experiences.
2016 In a Free State
2018 Vaikhari
2019 Aahuti (Short)
2023 Szepty z ognia i wody / Whispers of Fire & Water
