KUORIUTUA, KUKOISTAA, KUOLLA
TO FEATHER, TO WITHER
2020
To Feather, to Wither examines the mythical intertwining of life and death in an unusual relationship between a girl and her crows.
FESTIVALS & AWARDS
DOK Leipzig 2020 (Germany)
Silver Eye Award 2020 Short Film Competition (Czech Republic) - Special Mention
Minimalen Short Film Festival 2021 (Norway)
DocPoint Helsinki Documentary Film Festival 2021 (Finland)
Tampere Film Festival 2021 (Finland)
Berlin Revolution Film Festival 2021 (Germany) - Honorable Mention
Sehsüchte Internationales Studierendenfilmfestival 2021 (Germany)
Beldocs International Documentary Film Festival 2021 (Serbia)
Melbourne International Film Festival 2021 (Australia)
Helsinki International Film Festival Love & Anarchy 2021 (Finland)
FLIGHT/ Mostra Internazionale del Cinema di Genova 2021 (Italy)
Kaohsiung Film Festival 2021 (Taiwan)
Pune Short Film Festival 2021 (India)
Nordic/Docs 2021 (Norway) - Best Short Documentary
dokumentART 2021 (Germany) - Audience Award
Eastern Neighbours Film Festival 2022 (Netherlands)
filmzeit - Das Allgäuer Autorenfilmfestival 2022 (Germany)
Pori Film Festival 2022 (Finland)
TECHNICAL DETAILS
A DocNomads production in co-production with Good Kids Productions
Genre Experimental, Hybrid, Documentary
Production countries Hungary, Belgium, Portugal, Finland
Running time 20 min
Language Hungarian (with English subtitles)
Shooting format Super 16mm
Screening format DCP, ProRes (2K, 2.39:1)
Color B&W
Audio Digital 5.1
SYNOPSIS
A young female taxidermy apprentice is working to give new life to deceased birds. She is fascinated with one species in particular - the hooded crow.
In ancient myths and legends, the crow represents a mediator between life and death. For her, death is not a strange thing, but something tangible, an inseparable element in the cycle of existence. In her world, a black cat is playing curiously with an unfinished crow and a piece of meat embodies both the demise of an animal and a new beginning, nurturing a newborn bird fluttering in its nest.
Portrayed in a language of symbols, the film lingers somewhere between documentary, experimental film and visual poetry.
CREDITS
Written and directed by Hanna Hovitie
Produced by Hanna Hovitie, Daniel Donato
Co-produced by Patricia D'Intino
Cinematography Daniel Donato
Editing Hanna Hovitie
Sound Design and Mixing Bence Kovács-Vajda
Music Bence Kovács-Vajda
Color Grading Catalin Miloiu