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Shifting Pictures: Somewhere Over the Chemtrails

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A comic take on a serious topic told through beautifully composed shots of the Czech countryside

director
Adam Koloman Rybanský
running time
85’
spoken language
Czech
subtitles
English
Clumsy Standa and recently widowed Bronya are volunteer firefighters in a small village, where they enjoy a quiet and peaceful life. Things begin to change when a van crashes into the crowded Easter Fair. Before anyone notices, the driver runs away and the festive mood is replaced by an atmosphere of fear, hatred, and misinformation. Bronya, who is convinced this was a case of terrorism, is trying to do something to improve the situation. The sense of danger pumps new blood into his veins, and the fire brigade becomes a militia.

Director Adam Koloman Rybanský’s confidently told and rhythmically compelling debut examines the mechanisms of racism and exclusion in the microcosm of a village. At the same time, he takes a loving and humorous look at human weakness, revealing a deeply humanist world view.

Somewhere Over the Chemtrails premiered at Berlinale Film Festival in 2022.

Read more about Adam Koloman Rybanský

Adam Koloman Rybanský was born in Hradec Králové (1994). He studied film directing at FAMU in Prague since 2013. During his studies he wrote and directed several short films which were shown at various international film festivals. In 2021, Rybanský graduated from FAMU with his feature debut Somewhere Over the Chemtrails.

In his movies he portrays everyday life situations in a form of highly stylized absurd dramedy. Despite fun and humour, his films are urgent and serious in its core. Rybanský often works with non-actors, and tells his stories mainly through static wide shots with timeless atmosphere, and elaborate mise-en-scene.