Like memory itself, the film gathers fragments of images, freeze frames, faded family photographs and youthful photo-booth self-portraits, journals, poetry, an evocative sound design and the simple honesty of Jelena’s voice into a lyrical tapestry that reconstructs her past and re-imagines her future.
Jelena’s intelligence and courage permeate this film. As she unearths a rich family history, memories of a period of childhood trauma become only one thread of a complex and loving childhood. Her search for self-awareness spans continents, cultures and generations, and as she recovers the meanings behind family traditions, she learns the value – the ordinary magic – that lies at the heart of everyday rituals. In doing so, she tells a powerful story about her psychological journey to liberate her own creativity and raises profound questions about the multiple meanings of memory, photography and identity.
DAFilms.com is powered by Doc Alliance, a creative partnership of 7 key European documentary film festivals. Our aim is to advance the documentary genre, support its diversity and promote quality creative documentary films.