Archive of films Lessons from the Night / Lessons from the Night

Australia
2008, 9 min

Section: Documentary Films - Competition
Year: 2009

During the routine execution of her job, a Bulgarian immigrant named Maia – one among the nameless hordes of male and female cleaners – muses about life and its meaning, thus allowing a look into her surprisingly diverse past. This existential film about cleaning is also a tribute to the thousands of anonymous individuals carrying out serious work for laughable pay.

Synopsis

Darkness falls on the town, and thousands of anonymous individuals are just beginning their work shifts. Equipped with cleaning supplies, they move silently through shopping centers and office buildings, leaving behind dozens of empty wastebaskets and myriad square meters of polished floors. During the routine execution of her job, a Bulgarian immigrant named Maia – one among the nameless hordes of male and female cleaners – muses about life and its meaning, thus allowing a look into her surprisingly diverse past. The director calls his short documentary an existential film about cleaning.

About the director

Adrian Francis traveled through Europe and Asia after studying film and making several short features. After a four-year stint teaching English in Tokyo, he returned to his native Australia where in 2006 he finished film studies specializing in documentary filmmaking. His short doc Soft Words (2006) took several student awards.

Contacts

Feather Films
68 Herbert Street, Northcote, 3070, Victoria
Australia
Tel: +61 4 386 800 68
E-mail: [email protected]

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About the film

Color, HD CAM

Section:	Documentary Films - Competition

Director:	Adrian Francis
Screenplay:	Adrian Francis
Dir. of Photography:	Marcus Dineen
Editor:	Adrian Francis
Producer:	Melanie Brunt
Production:	Feather Films
Contact:	Feather Films

www:	www.featherfilms.com.au/lessons-from-the-night