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For generations, the Salamanca community of Mennonites has been living in the same modest and rigidly organized way. Modern-day scenes are accompanied by a voice-over narrating a man’s recollections of his youth. “As soon as I close my eyes,” he explains, “I go back to the past, to the moment when I made the choice that shaped my entire life.” Speaking in the Plautdietsch language, he talks calmly of the strong curiosity he felt as a young boy about the world beyond Salamanca and the Mennonite faith – a curiosity for which he paid dearly.
It’s 2020 and Minsk, the capital city of Belarus, is overflowing with anti-government protests. A dreamy figure – Mara – takes us on a journey alongside the protesting crowds. Mara’s symbolic presence is a stark contrast to the harsh reality of the street. There is a determination to Mara, but also a fragility – as if her persona reflects the collective mental state of the protesters witnessing their dream for freedom turn into a nightmare.
"A Hawk as Big as a Horse" follows the daily life of Lydia, a bi-gender ornithologist who lives in Shcherbinka, a remote suburb of Moscow. As Lydia embarks on remaking David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, she decides to create Lara, a life-size silicon doll of her favorite actress.
in the documentary "Architect Abdelwahed El-Wakil," the architect discusses the relationship between architecture and identity, emphasizing the importance of preserving cultural heritage and embracing unique building styles. El-Wakil shares his personal experiences growing up in Egypt during political change and his quest to create authentic Egyptian architecture. He also introduces Islamic architecture philosophy to students, facing opposition, and advocates for reintroducing aesthetics into modern architecture. El-Wakil's discovery of Nubian architecture and his shift towards environmentally-friendly building methods are also highlighted, along with his fascination with the significance of the courtyard and symbolism in architecture.
