4 Elements

Colour, 35 mm
Netherlands, 2006, 89 min
Section: Documentary Films in Competition

Synopsis

The documentary film by Jiska Rickels comprises four chapters which depict human endeavour in the face of the four elements. The first part devoted to Fire sees a group of fire-fighters operating in the Siberian forests where extensive fires break out regularly during the summer months. In the part focusing on Water, we set off for Alaska in search of royal crab hunters forced to endure the claustrophobic environment of their fishing boat, tossed by stormy waters. To illustrate the Earth element, the director chose to depict miners working in a huge German mine where, along the endless corridors leading to the core of the mountain, they encounter signposts saying, eloquently, “To Hell”. The last chapter, Air, examines the extreme physical and psychological strain which astronauts face as they prepare for their journey into space. This striking film, with its refined camera in the role of observer, is enhanced by well chosen atmospheric sound.

About the director

Jiska Rickels (b. 1977) performed in musical stage productions, and then studied at the Netherlands Film and Television Academy. Her graduate film was Days Under (Untertage), for which she was awarded a Special Mention at Karlovy Vary in 2004 and also a number of prizes at other festivals. She also worked as assistant director on the film The Story of the Weeping Camel (Die Geschichte vom weinenden Kamel) which was nominated for an Oscar. Filmography: Gotterdämmerung (2002), Untertage (2003), Himmelfilm (2004), Electriek (2004), Sevko (2005), 4 Elements (2006).