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Film Archive

Trains of Thoughts

Documentary Films - Competition 2012 / Trains of Thoughts / Austria 2012

The Sofa Surfers’ original soundtrack accompanies the special rhythm of Timo Novotny’s audiovisual essay as it takes us on a journey through the subways of several world cities, discovering what makes them unique. This whimsical movie stands out for its effective interplay of music and image.

Trains of Thoughts Trains of Thoughts

Synopsis

For the majority of people, the subway merely represents a reliable means of transportation that quickly and safely transports them to their destination. Timo Novotny’s audiovisual essay, however, reveals that the underground railway is much more. It is quite literally the seedbed of a wide variety of human stories (New York), a center of diverse musical production (Los Angeles), a favored locale of suicide and sexual deviance (Tokyo), a glitzy tourist attraction (Moscow), or an ideal place for study or relaxation. Set to the excellent, uninterrupted soundtrack by Sofa Surfers (rightfully dubbed the Austrian Massive Attack), the filmmakers accompany us through the underground railways of several world metropolises, discovering what makes them unique. Sometimes visually reminiscent of a classy music video, this whimsical movie stands out for its original visual treatment and effective interplay of music and image.

About the film

85 min / Color, DCP
World premiere

Director Timo Novotny / Screenplay Timo Novotny / Dir. of Photography Timo Novotny, Jakob Barth / Music Sofa Surfers / Editor Timo Novotny, Jakob Barth / Producer Ulrich Gehmacher / Production Orbrock Film Production / Contact Orbrock Film Production
www: www.trainsofthoughts.net

About the director

Timo Novotny

Timo Novotny (b. 1973, Böblingen, Germany) graduated in media from Vienna’s University of Applied Arts. He is a cofounder and member of Vidok and Sofa Surfers who makes his home in the Austrian capital. Filmography: Wirehead (1993-1996, with Norbert Pfaffenbichler), The Plan (1997), Life in Malmoe (1998), CARGO (1999), Sofa Rockers (2000), Can I Get a Witness (2002), Neon (2002), and Discube (2003). His work has been part of many exhibitions and festivals, including Clermont-Ferrand, Mexico City, Sarajevo, New York, and Montreal. In 2006 he was an ex-aequo winner in the KVIFF documentary competition with Life in Loops (A Megacities RMX).

Contacts

Orbrock Film Production
Schottenfeldgasse 56/23, 1070, Vienna
Austria
Phone: +43 152 225 88
Fax: +43 152 225 88
E-mail: [email protected]

Guests

Ulrich Gehmacher
Producer

Timo Novotny
Film Director

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