Spirits and Rocks: An Azorean Myth

Spirits and Rocks: an Azorean Myth
Espíritos e Rochas: um Mito Açoriano
Switzerland/ Portugal, 2020, 14՛
in Portuguese w/ Eng./ Arm. Subtitles

Director and Scriptwriter: Aylin Gökmen
Cinematographer: Marianna Vas
Producers: Aylin Gökmen, Victor Candeias
Editor: Aylin Gökmen
Sound designers: Etienne Curchod, Joao Alves
Production Company: A Vol d’oiseau, DocNomads

On a volcanic island, inhabitants are caught in an unending cycle: the threat of impending eruptions and earthquakes, and the burden of past traumas loom over them. Some draw upon myth and religious beliefs to interpret their precarious situation, while others demonstrate resilience, rebuilding their villages from the volcanic rocks. Mirroring the ethereal atmosphere of the island’s landscapes, the film gradually takes on the appearance of the stories it recounts.

Aylin Gökmen

Aylin Gökmen is a Swiss-Turkish filmmaker who earned a B.A. in Arts from the University of Lausanne and an M.A. in documentary filmmaking from the DocNomads Erasmus Mundus program. Combining a documentary and experimental approach, her works revolve around themes of memory, imagination and landscape. In 2020, she co-founded A Vol d’Oiseau, a production structure dedicated to the development of various Swiss and international projects. Her film Spirits and Rocks: an Azorean Myth has participated in multiple film festivals, including Sundance, Locarno, Solothurner Filmtage, Aubagne, etc.

Filmography

Spirits and Rocks: an Azorean Myth (2020).