Leiputrija
Laila Pakalniņa
Latvia | 2004 | 30 min
Language : no dialogue
There are places that we do not want to know anything about, such as a dumpsite. From the humans’ point of view, it is a ghastly place, a stinking desert of trash. But it is a desert teaming with life: the astounding profusion of insects, reptiles, birds and mammals, all intertwined in an existential life-death relationship, imparting to it some strangely alluring dream-like quality.
There are places that we do not want to know anything about; one such place is a dumpsite. From the humans’ point of view, it is a ghastly place, a stinking desert of trash. But it is a desert that is teaming with life: the astounding profusion of insects, reptiles, birds and mammals, all intertwined in an existential life-death relationship, imparting some strangely alluring dream-like quality to it. “The story of a dumpsite – a singularly human kind of formation and a biotope in its own right. [...] We will remain neutral observers, mere visitors from the City, the source of all waste. [...] We will be able to present the exact cast for the film after a careful selection of the main actors is made. Nevertheless, candidates with the best chances to be selected include the rat, the eagle owl, the man, the beetle and the pumpkin. [...] Approximately a hundred species of birds (one third of the total of Latvia’s bird species) that have been observed on this site could take part in the mass scenes. In winter and fall 7 to 9 thousand seagulls make their presence seen and heard in a most overwhelming way. Pigeons, sparrows and jackdaws will form another body of extras." Laila Pakalnina
