Armenian criminal drama Thus spoke the windWritten and directed by Maria Rigel, will have her world premiere as part of the Programming of the Proxima competition at the International Film Festival of Karlovy 2025.
The independent Armenian production features Albert Babajanyan, Lusine Avanesyan and Annika Abrahamyan, with a cinematography by Ayrat Yamilov.
THR Can now exclusively reveal the poster and a trailer for the film.
The film tells the story of a family on the verge of society. Hayk, a child withdrawn and distant, lives on a farm with his aunt nostril and makes fun of and is called Strange by others. After a long stay abroad, his mother returns to the farm. “The inhabitants openly condemn its behavior because it does not follow the rules of society,” reads a synopsis of the intrigue. “Narine, unable to forgive Anahit the shame which was brought to her with her behavior, decides to take revenge.”
The film presents local talents, most of which are not professional actors. This choice reflects the director’s attempt to ensure “authenticity and to create a feeling of documentary realism”, she explains in the declaration of a director. The crew was made up of local population and immigrants from post-Soviet countries.
“The film continues the cultural traditions of Armenian Author Cinema,” explains Rigel. “The documentary style of the film is combined with the bright color poetics of [Soviet filmmaker Sergei] Parajanov’s cinema, which reflects the modern world of Armenia, the shock of traditions of the past and the present. »»
She also notes the importance of music in the film. “The soundtrack of the film was created by the American composer Steve Brand”, known for his ambient music with tribal and ritual vibrations, explains the director. “His magic music puts perfectly underlines the spirit of modern Armenian aesthetics.”
The idea for the film came to her in 2022 after having moved to Armenia. “I was deeply moved by this country – its culture, its nature and its people. Contemporary Armenia is inside the layers of the past and the present, coexisting in a constant and unresolved tension, and yet in a way completing in a way, ”she recalls. “Through history, I wanted to symbolically reflect the shock between the archaic
The state of mind of a traditional society and the quiet rebellion of a young generation. »»
The description of Kviff of the film also notes: “This cryptic film, visually and fascinating ear, seen through the eyes of a child forced to grow too early, is dominated by the all-lavade motif of the wind.
Look at the trailer for Thus spoke the wind Below to have a first taste for his visual and audio style, as well as his characters.
