WALDEN

In the forest of the Catholic Monastery of Admont in Austria a fir tree is felled and processed into planks of wood. By train, truck, boat and finally by hand, the stack is transported to a mysterious destination right in the heart of the Brazilian rainforest. The wooden planks’ trajectory corresponds to one of the central, raw materials trade routes, however in reversed direction of transport.

The film is a meditative and subtle comment on the absurdity of the economic rationale that underlies our globalised world. Each sequence of shots corresponds to a stage in the process. By means of thirteen 360-degree shots, the Swiss filmmaker Daniel Zimmermann clears a paradoxical pathway into the logic of globalised trade routes.

DISTRIBUTION

Production: Beauvoir Films

World Sales: sixpackfilm

Festivals: Pascale Ramonda

Non-Theatrical Distribution US & Canada: Grasshopper Film

Oficial Webside: walden-film.com

Trailer: >

Video in demand: DAFilms.

World Premiere: 53rd Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, CZE, 2018

US-Premiere: Sundance Film Festival

AWARDS

Documentary Special Jury Prize: Karlovy Vary International Film Festival, CZE  Emerging Swiss Talent Award for best Swiss Film 2019: Zurich Film Festival, CH Honorable Mention: CineEco, Seia, PT

REVIEWS

“Der filmisch konstruierte Blick ist eine Raumerschliessung, die nicht der menschlichen Erfahrung entspricht.” Till Brockmann, Filmbulletin, 21.09.2020  “Apart from the use of circular time, the film puts emphasis on time as never stopping. Photography and film, it is true, can halt time, can seemingly give us power over time in that they both allow us to stop for a moment, to go back, to look again.” Nadin Mai, The Art(s) of Slow Cinema, 17.06.2019  “The most fascinating aspect of the film was the steady 360-degree pan, kept at a constant velocity for the entire length of the documentary.” Adelina Whitten, Catalyst – Resources for Creative Living, 31.01.2019 “Eine Einladung zum stillen Schauen (…)”. Christine Schnapp, Doppelpunkt – Das Schweizer Magazin für Achtsamkeit, 24.01.2019 “Vor einer anderen Vorführung des Filmes habe der Moderator mit dem Publikum eine Atemübung gemacht. Das habe das Publikum entspannt, sagt Regisseur Daniel Zimmermann bevor das Screening seines Films WALDEN beginnt.” Georg Kussmann, Diskussionsprotokoll Nr. 12 – Duisburger Filmwoche, 08.11.2018  “WALDEN ist durchaus Kunst, die man verstehen kann, an der man sich erfreuen darf. Durch das sorgsame Schauen entsteht ein weiter Raum für eigene Gedanken.” Dita Rudle, Tanzschrift, 30.10.2018 “Un film minimaliste et animiste qui s’adresse à ceux qui auront le courage de quitter leur zone de confort”. Giorgia Del Don, Cineuropa, 09.10.201 “Prix d’encouragement pour le meilleur film suisse, le “road-movie” “Walden” explore lui la question de la manière de traiter notre habitat au quotidien.” Ennio Leanza, Swissinfo, 07.10.2018 “Walden erhält Förderpreis für besten Schweizer Film beim ZFF” Getty, Nau.ch, 07.10.2018 “Composed of just 13 rotating shots, this is a formally impressive rumination on subjects such as globalization and nature versus man that uses camerawork and editing to turn the film into something almost as surreal as the subjects it explores. ” Boyd van Hoeij, The Hollywood reporter, 12.07.2018 The simultaneous wonder and horror of the industriousness of man and its impact on the environment is depicted here, but it’s not hand-wringingly preachy. https://letterboxd.com/film/walden

FESTIVALS

Listapad Minsk International Film Festival: 1 – 8 November 2019 25th CineEco Seia: 12 – 19 October 2019 9th San Francisco Green Film Festival: 24 – 29 September 2019 Ulji Mountain Film Festival: 6 – 10 September 2019 Sydney Film Festival: 5 – 11 June 2019 22° Environmental Film Festival CinemAmbiente Torino: 31 May – 5 June 2019 Molodist – Kyiv International Film Festival: 25 May – 2 June 2019 Beldocs – International Documentary Film Festival: 8 – 15 May 2019 Trento Film Festival: 27 April – 5 May 2019 Art of the Real – Film Society of Lincoln Center: 18 – 28 April 2019  Diagonale – Festival des österreichischen Films: 19 March – 24 March 2019 Cinéma du réel – Festival International du Film Documentaire:  15 March – 24 March 2019  21st Thessaloniki Documentary Festival: 1 March – 10 March 2019 Zagreb Dox – International Documentary Film Festival:  24 February – 3 March 2019 Göteborg Film Festival:  25 January – 4 February 2019 DocPoint – Helsinki Documentary Film Festival:  28 January – 3 February 2019 Sundance Film Festival:  24 January – 3 February 2019 IFFR – International Film Festival Rotterdam:  23 January – 3 February 2019 54. Solothurner Filmtage:  24 January – 31 January 2019 Leeds International Film Festival:  1 November – 15 November 2018 42. Duisburger Filmwoche:  5 November – 11 November 2018 59 Festival dei Popoli:  3 November – 10 November 2018 Viennale – Vienna International Film Festival:  25 October – 8 November 2018 Adelaide Film Festival:  10 October – 21 October 2018 Hamptons International Film Festival:  4 October – 8 October 2018 Zurich Film Festival:  27 September – 7 October 2018 Camden International Film Festival:  13 September – 16 September 2018 Karlovy Vary International Film Festival: 29 June – 7 July 2018

SPECS

Length: 106 min Language, Subtitles: none Shooting format: HD colors Screening format: DCP 50 fps Sound: Dolby Digital 5.1

CREDITS

Produced by: Beauvoir Films Geneva – Aline Schmid & Adrian Blaser In Coproduction with: Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen With the support of: Bundesamt für Kultur (BAK), Cinéforom et Loterie Romande, Teleproduktions-Fonds, Kanton Luzern, Aargauer Kuratorium, Fachausschuss Film & Medienkunst BS/BL, Kanton Zug, Kanton Bern, Ernst Göhner Stiftung, Jubiläumsstiftung der Schweizerischen Mobiliar Genossenschaft, Magistratsabteilung 7 – Kultur – Stadt Wien, Stadt Solothurn, Däster-Schild Schiftung

Written and Directed by: Daniel Zimmermann Artistic and visual concept in collaboration with: Bernhard Braunstein, Gerald Kerkletz, Amanda Piña Cinematography: Gerald Kerkletz Camera technician: Michael Krischan Rotation head technician: Georg Hirzinger Editing: Bernhard Braunstein Sound Recording: Klaus Kellermann Sound Design: Karoline Heflin Foley Artist: Sabine Hasicka Re-recording mixer: Bernhard Maisch, Tremens Film Colours: Andi Winter Compositing: Matthias Halibrand, Markus Kircher DCP & Mastering: Andi Winter, .film.film. Graphic Design: Thomas Rhyner Artistic Consultants: Thomas Bachmann, Christian Müller, Meinhard Rauchensteiner Making of: Susana Ojeda, Hubert Marz

Shooting Europe: Line producers: Marlene Gunst, Georg Aschauer Collaboration production: Samuel Huber, Adrian Blaser Accounting: Annick Kammacher, Romana Holzmüller

Shooting Brazil: Service Producer: Ticiana Augusto Lima, Tardo Filmes Line producer: Jerônimo Lemos, Tiago Melo Production assistants: Isabel Coelho de Carvalho, Luciana Viera, Carolina Fernandez Stage Designer: Dionísio Alves da Silva Stage Hand: Davi Vital de Carvalho Driver: Rogerio Carvalho Facilitators ISA – Instituto Socioambiental: Cleidinaldo dos Santos Soares, Francilenee Pinheiro

Research trip 1: Camera: Bernhard Braunstein Line producer: Francisco Lara Production assistant: Pedro Cela

Research trip 2: Camera: Daniel Correia Line producer: Tiago Melo Production assistant: Anália Nogueira

Supporters: Admont Abbey: Michael Braunsteiner, Franz Riegler Kunsthalle Wien: Nicolaus Schafhausen, Anne Faucheret, Hektor Peljak Airport Linz: Romana Wagner Porto Chibatão, Manaus: Evelyn de Oliveira Santos, Cristiane Regina Machado Porto São Raimundo, Manaus: Dionisio Ramires Tennis court – Mamedtenis, Manaus: Antonio Ademir ATEM- Posto Flutuante, Manaus: Olivelton Duarte Barros COOP. ACAMDAF Fastboat: Mayk Quintelo de Oliveira Collaboration Production: nadaproductions Wien Production Development Insert Film: Pedro Haldemann, Fränze Aerne / dz-productions: Samuel Huber, Daniel Zimmermann Texts: Yvo Gurschler, Michael Woels Translation: Isabel Coelho de Carvalho, Nina Kälin, Giles Teixeira Technical advisers: Stefan Schmidt, Christoph Freidhöfer, Thomas Sandri Camera rental: ARRI Rental Wien, Andreas Buchschachner Insurance: Boss Insurance Services SA

Transports: HS ART: Gerhard Gaulhofer, Siegfried Schöffauer WAIVERARTS: Juliana Felix DHL AT: Michael Viehböck, Berhard Riener, Wolfgangg Taschner ÖBB/Rail Cargo Austria: Sven Pusswald, Christoph Posch, Michael Binder, Gerhard Pölzl, Gerald Enser, Melanie Müllner, Peter Jaksch, Walter Flicker, Christan Trummer, Harald Schiffl

CAST EUROPE: Forestry workers: Edi Brandmüller, Eliass Schönleitner Station Master: Günter Watzl Forklift Driver: Florian Hipfl Wood crane operator: Harald Baldinger Train driver: Christian Dobesberger Livestock truck driver: Josef Schneider Cyclists: Florian Pfeiffenberger, Erich Pritz Police officers: Kurt Kaltenböck, Herbert Moser, Ludwig Weigert, Josef Bauer, Gerhard Bayer, Gerold Glechner, Walter Baue Truck drivers: Franz Hager, Markus Hufnagl

CAST BRAZIL: Forklift driver: David Vital de Carvalho Tennis players: Antoni Romualdo da Silva, John Willian, Carlos Adalberto Hofmann Native community: Yanomami Barco do Balsa, Captain: Donizete José Barros Sailor: Donizete José Barbosa Boat: Dom Bosco I Captain: Augusto Gervásio Sailors: Joaquim Ferreira, Erick Barbado Cook: Aldo Alves Boat CID Indigena R.N III Captain: Cleidinaldo dos Santos Soares Sailor: Mayk Quintelo de Oliveira Canoeists / Helper/ Lazier Native Community of Canafé: Sandoval Basilio Miranda, Luis Carlos Basílio, Erivaldo Basílio Miranda,Anselmoo Mavel Gregório, Orivaldo Basílio Miranda, Andonias Mateus Gomes, Leonardo de Souza Feiotosa, José Cledimar Gomes Native Community of Campinas do RioPreto: Ailton Francisco Pereira Muniz, Aelton José Pereiraa Muniz, Luciano de Jesus Pereira, Antonio de Jesus Pereira Filho, Juarez Lima da Cosa

ISAN 0000-0004-67B4-0000-8-0000-0000-D