The feature film I Plant My Hand In the Garden, directed by Boris Hadžija from Serbia and Hoda Taheri from Iran, had its world premiere in the Giornate degli Autori competition program, within the 83rd Venice International Film Festival.
The film follows Hoda and Boris who decide to get married and gather their families in Sremski Karlovci. While awaiting the arrival of their first child, the two begin to question the notion of family as a relationship that is constantly being built and changed under the influence of distance, borders and socio-historical circumstances.
After the screening, Boris Hadžija pointed out that the theater was full and that the audience reacted very well to the film. As he stated, the topics of family, identity, migration and queer family, as well as the way in which the film combines documentary and feature forms, aroused special interest.
“Showing in Venice certainly opened the door for us to other festivals as well, which is very important for us,” said Hadžija.
The film attracted international attention and reviews. The International Cinephile Society evaluates it as a highly unusual and elusive achievement, highlighting its precise visual composition, the way in which mirrors and physical obstacles create a sense of distance or closeness, as well as the carefully composed details of everyday scenes. The reviews especially emphasizes that the film does not offer a single interpretation, but invites the viewer to surrender to its rhythm and atmosphere.
The main roles are played by the authors themselves, together with members of their families – Branko Hadžija, Igor Hadžija, Jahandoht Taheri and Hosna Taheri. The film was shot on location in Sremski Karlovci, Novi Sad, Belgrade and Berlin.
The domestic premiere of the film is expected at this year’s 32nd Original Film Festival.
Photo: Maurice Puccio, Giulia Barini, Antonella Borraccesi