Proxima Competition opens with hybrid cinema. Brutal violence and a smouldering landscape

The Proxima Competition begins. Its two opening films share a dedication to exploring the boundaries between fiction and documentary, as well as an uncompromising honesty in examining their subjects. Both titles will have their world premieres at the Karlovy Vary Theatre: Homo Sive Natura at 4 p.m. and 33 Steps at 7 p.m.

The vast forests of eastern Cambodia, imbued with an almost spiritual dimension, are sustained by an Indigenous community. Yet something is amiss. Is danger approaching? The majestic trees and the gently flowing river that embraces the region are subtly disturbed by a simmering sense of unease. An unnamed protagonist arrives in this unique community. At first glance, he appears to be a tourist. In reality, however, he has been sent by a private company to gather information that could pave the way for the expropriation of the land. As he becomes immersed in this hypnotic microcosm, where nature and the community are bound together culturally and spiritually, he begins to question both himself and the system he serves. 

Director Giovanni C. Lorusso avoids conventionally picturesque imagery. Through its carefully constructed editing, the surrounding landscape becomes a fully expressive narrative element, entering into dialogue with the characters and, at times, speaking on their behalf. This is further reinforced by an intricately crafted sound design that resists ambient cliché. Homo Sive Natura is not only a reflection on contemporary forms of colonialism, but also a compelling cinematic essay on the passage and cycles of time.

A promising directorial debut Anna Domček and Šimon Domček deliver an uncompromising yet deeply empathetic exploration of fear, moral integrity, and the nature of revenge. 33 Steps is based on a true story of Milan Daniel, who also appears in the film. As a teenager, Daniel was brutally attacked by a group of neo-Nazis. He suffered clinical death and fell into a coma. How do you return to ordinary life after an experience like that? How do you live with the ever-growing anger born of such profound injustice? 

Rendered in delicately textured, grainy images, the film paints a richly layered portrait of its protagonist’s inner turmoil while also offering a glimpse into the world of his attackers. Its formal approach is built on duality: non-professional performers alongside actors, rawness balanced with vulnerability, and genre conventions interwoven with an unembellished reconstruction of real events. Emotionally powerful and visually inventive, 33 Steps confronts the sadly still-urgent issue of racial hatred while portraying a family bound together by unwavering support. Above all, it reminds us that we never have to face the darkness within alone.