UMBRA

Ashimmering light, the rustle of the leaves, round spots of light in the shade of a tree. The sun reflects on the water. It is an element and counterpart. Can nature observe itself? A cinematic reflection on the presence and absence of things.

The film UMBRA deals with rare and common optical phenomena that occur in nature. These phenomena evoke familiar images such as shadows or reflections on a water surface, but also unusual ones like the “Brocken spectre” or the pinhole effect during a solar eclipse. These ancient and natural projections can be considered as pre-cultural and independent of any apparatus. They occurred even before mankind and are united by their intangible, ephemeral presence. In their immateriality and fragility, they are precursors of the cinematic image.

UMBRA develops a visual dialogue between phenomenon and apparatus, archetype and image, self and self-perception.

Directors

FLORIAN FISCHER was born in 1981 and studied Communication Design and Image Sciences. His films include: STILL LIFE (2014), KALTES TAL (2016), NO SEX PLEASE (2017), and UMBRA (2019).

JOHANNES KRELL was born in 1982 and studied Cinematography and Media Arts. His films include: the shorts ROOM ONE (2009), STATION (2010), A CLOUD OF UNKNOWING (2011), STILL LIFE (2014), KALTES TAL (2016), and UMBRA (2019).

Florian Fischer, Johannes Krell photos © RosenPictures Filmproduktion