FEMALE DIRECTORS BEHIND THE IRON CURTAIN
Welcome to: Eat Your Feelings CINEMA, an experience that brings together storytelling, food and cinema and aims to explore, from a feminist standpoint, provocative subjects and inspire exciting conversations that extend food outside of its domestic context.
A cinematic continuation of sonic adventure Eat Your Feelings Radio, the screenings introduce a diverse movie selection that emphasises provocative subjects accompanied by themed snacks, consumed at specific moments. The screenings open with an introductory talk and eating instructions, followed by an informal Q&A around drinks, and sharing stories our experiences and of course, our feelings.
The result of a fruitful research on female directors in Eastern Europe during the Iron Curtain, this is the second screening of this mini-series introducing you to the world of cinematic possibilities that were open to women during this complicated time.
Varijacije 5’
dir. Tatjana Ivančić
1975, Yugoslavia, Short film, Documentary
Tatjana Ivančić (1913-1986). Ivancic made around seventy Super 8mm films in just two decades (1960-1980), with a Russian camera that her son had stopped using. With all the freedom that comes with amateur filmmaking, her work had a successful run on the amateur film festival circuit in the former Yugoslavia. Always based on her daily life, Ivancic’s work poetically rescues the beauty of nature, of small things, small flashes of light among the mundane and Variations is no different. A short and mesmerising slice of life.
Ceiling / Strop 40’
dir. Vera Chytilova
1962 Czechoslovakia, Short film, Documentary
Strop (Ceiling, 1962) is a medium-length film written and directed by Věra Chytilová as her graduation project at Prague’s FAMU academy.
The film follows Marta (played by non-actress Marta Kaňkovská), a young woman who abandons medical school to work as a fashion model in Prague. Though her life appears glamorous and comfortable on the surface, she becomes increasingly disillusioned by the superficiality, objectification, and sexism inherent in the fashion industry. Trapped in a cycle of dull, repetitive runway shows and routine interactions with condescending men, Marta feels alienated and stifled. A chance encounter with a former medical school peer and a night out with her boyfriend force her to confront the figurative "ceiling" limiting her personal freedom and potential. Stop explores Chytilová’s favourite theme – emancipation. Many of the female characters in Chytilová’s films battle, often in vain, to extricate themselves from an existential stereotype. This documentary-style film also features a number of future celebrities of the Czechoslovak New Wave film scene, including fellow FAMU students Jiří Menzel and Miloš Forman.
The screening is accompanied by an unconventional buffet inspired by the work of Polish artist Natalia LL, "Consumer Art" (1972), and a Polaroid photo shoot with her staple props: bananas and vanilla pudding.
Food: the menu consists of snacks and will be vegan. for any allergy concerns and inquiries, you can e-mail: alina.turdean [at] gmail.com
Colour & dress code: black & white, fashion victim empowerment.
40 spots, no door sale.
Cineville valid, extra €5,- for buffet
