Where Elephants Go
Whimsical, unpredictable and only a bit artificial! This film is proof of how capable we are of lying to ourselves and others to make life more bearable for all.
Nine-year-old Leni is witty and wise for her age and quite a match for the homeless intellectual Marcel, who is a 23-year-old child. Leni’s mother Magda refuses to accept the failure of Leni’s medical treatment and rebuffs Marcel’s friendship, even as he and Leni demonstrate that every step through life can be a joyous adventure.
Friday, 29 November – 20:45
Sunday, 1 December – 15:45
ENGLISH SUBTITLES | 115 MIN
DUTCH PREMIERE
UNDE MERG ELEFANTII | Catalin Rotaru and Gabi Sarga | 2024 | Romania
PRODUCTION
Gabi Suciu – Green Cat Film, Atelier de Film, Avanpost
SCREENPLAY
Catalin Rotaru, Gabi Sarga
DOP
Adrian Paduretu
EDITING
Stefan Azaharioaie
CAST
Stefan Mihai, Carina Lapusneanu, Iulia Verdes, Richard Bovnoczki
FESTIVALS & AWARDS (SELECTION)
Vilnius International Film Festival, 2024 – World Premiere | IndieLisboa International Film Festival, 2024 | Transilvania International Film Festival, 2024 – Special Mention of the Ecumenical Jury
DIRECTOR’S BIO
Catalin Rotaru and Gabi Sarga are a Romanian writer/director duo. In 2003 they both graduated from the National University of Theatre and Cinema in Bucharest where they studied acting. They have been writing and directing for television and theatre for almost twenty years. Their debut short film “4:15 P.M. The End of the World” premiered at Cannes FF in 2016. Their debut feature film “Thou Shalt Not Kill” premiered at Warsaw IFF in 2018.
DIRECTORS’ STATEMENT
“Where Elephants Go” tells the story of a terminally ill girl, who wants to leave a trace of her fleeting existence in the world; and her mother who struggles to save her. Into their life comes Marcel, a man in his 20s who is depressed and suicidal for no apparent reason. Or maybe he displays all the reasons. It’s a story of unexpected love and friendship between very different characters who in some ways fit together quite naturally as they face adversity. Our film is not quite a comedy – or maybe it truly is – or maybe not at all… We started writing the script after long arguments about “free will” – on which we have diametrically opposite views. We debated the possibility of being “led” at certain moments in life towards a purpose or end we have no choice but to accommodate. In other words, whether we are the authors of our own lives or just making the best of situations, as we follow a fictional path set for us by someone else.
