Emerging Czech director Michal Hogenauer, whose graduate film, Tambylles, was introduced in the Cannes Cinéfondation selection in 2012 and who debuted with the Hanekesque English-language social thriller A Certain Kind of Silence [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Michal Hogenauer
scheda film], will unveil his sophomore feature, Calm in the Canopy, as a world premiere at the Pingyao International Film Festival (11-18 October) in China. Reflecting some of the pressing issues of the contemporary world, especially Europe, the narrative delves into the pervasive feeling of obscure threats. The psychological character study captures the underlying anxieties and pathological fears lurking beneath Western culture, highlighting concerns about the disintegration of a luxurious life. The film offers a deep dive into the psyche of a middle-aged man, representative of a modern male generation grappling with identity crises amidst a changing societal landscape.

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In the film, a distinguished middle-aged gentleman, M (Pavel Gajdoš, from Colette), witnesses a minor incident at an airport involving a young man, possibly of Arab descent, and his servant. After a direct confrontation in the airport toilets, M becomes consumed by an escalating sense of unseen peril. This fear, initially nebulous, soon spirals into obsession, driving him to confront and potentially eradicate the perceived menace. The narrative seeks to craft a poignant portrayal of a man ensnared by his own fears, symbolising how individuals, when overwhelmed by societal uncertainties and perceived threats, can inadvertently become the very danger they once were scared of.

In a departure from A Certain Kind of Silence, which Hogenauer co-wrote, the script for Calm in the Canopy was penned by independent producer and filmmaker Václav Kadrnka (Saving One Who Was Dead [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Václav Kadrnka
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intervista: Michal Nohejl
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intervista: Adam Koloman Rybanský
scheda film]). The cinematography was managed by Šimon Dvořáček (Art Talent Exam [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Adéla Komrzý e Tomás Bojar
scheda film]), with Michal Reich (A Certain Kind of Silence) overseeing the editing. Barbora Námerová (Nightsiren [+leggi anche:
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intervista: Tereza Nvotová
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Calm in the Canopy is being produced by Czech independent outfit Sirius Films Manual, and co-produced by Slovak company Silverart Film and Czech Television. The Czech Film Fund and the Slovak Audiovisual Fund supported the project.