GEOGRAPHIES OF SOLITUDE

Geographies of Solitude, which celebrated its world premiere in the Forum section of this year's Berlinale, tells us about the life and work of Zoe Lucas, a woman in her seventies. As an art student, she visited Sable Island (Canada), stayed there and devoted herself to researching the flora and fauna of the place, especially the wild horses that roam the island's beautiful landscape. The horse droppings are not only used by Lucas as study material, but also by director Jacquelyn Mills to develop the 16mm film. Both the filmmaker and her protagonist love their work and dedicate themselves to it with a passion for their craft. Through a special use of image and sound, the film conveys to us the lives of two women who have found what they love in their respective professions in a way that is as sensual as it is beautiful. And they seem determined to continue doing so, even if it leads them to loneliness, as the title of the film suggests. But that is usually the fate of true artists. Sung Moon