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by Kurdwin Ayub
grade: 7.5
Wunderland is both a bitter and tender tale. A little, sincere film that with disarming realism shows us the first, important encounter with the world around us and its difficulties. Dreams are the mirror of our fears. But, perhaps, the love of parents can make us forget everything, even if only for a moment.
Where everything is pink
During the Diagonale’23 there was no shortage of exhibitions, installations and interesting side events that allowed us to delve into certain themes and filmographies, as well as to learn more about important artists and authors who have had and continue to have great importance within the national film scene. A particularly noteworthy event was in this regard the screening – inside a marquee, a special ‘cave’, in the foyer of the Annenhof Kino – of Wunderland, the most recent work by the versatile filmmaker Kurdwin Ayub, realised in cooperation with the Schauspielhaus Graz. It is a film made in virtual reality and shot with a 360° camera, which gives us the opportunity to ‘be a child again’ and to observe the reality around us through the eyes of a child.
In Wunderland, therefore, everything revolves around the protagonist (and, consequently, around ourselves). She lives with her parents (Maresi Riegner and Valentin Postlmayr). The two are very young artists and while the mother finally seems to be quite successful in her work, her father has to take a break so that he can look after the child. The young couple is not happy. And while this tension is immediately evident, the protagonist’s home and bedroom (as well as the cave set up for the occasion inside the projection tent) seem rather cosy, full of toys and with various shades of pink playing the leading role.
Such settings – as well as a small city park – constitute in Wunderland a successful counterpoint to what is being staged. The drama of the couple is immediately perceived by the child and soon turns into a real nightmare at night (skilfully realised with two-dimensional drawings). When the night is too scary, one can always take refuge in one’s parents’ bed. And so, if only for one night, one can finally believe that everything is fine.
From the very beginning of her career, Kurdwin Ayub immediately showed a strong, very strong desire to experiment, skilfully combining pure realism with the bright, pop colours of the world of teenagers and social media. And after having finally established herself internationally thanks to Sonne, her debut feature film, which had its world premiere at the Berlinale 2022 (where it was awarded Best First Feature) and was also the opening film of the Diagonale’22, here she is giving life to something totally new, approaching the world of virtual reality for the first time. And so we immediately want to find out what other surprises she has to offer us in the future.
Wunderland is both a bitter and tender tale. A little, sincere film that with disarming realism shows us the first, important encounter with the world around us and its difficulties. Dreams are the mirror of our fears. But, perhaps, the love of parents can make us forget everything, even if only for a moment.
Original title: Wunderland
Directed by: Kurdwin Ayub
Country/year: Austria / 2023
Running time: 15’
Genre: drama, animation, VR
Cast: Maresi Riegner, Valentin Postlmayr, Katharina Farnleitner
Screenplay: Kurdwin Ayub
Cinematography: Markus Zizenbacher
Produced by: Schauspielhaus Graz