SYNOPSIS
Matter and emotions float through darkness, sound flows like deep breath. Inspired by 'Bardo,' the Tibetan term for the liminal state between death and rebirth, this work is a cinematic journey where Viera Čákanyová explores inner darkness through generative animation. Traversing boundaries between existence and consciousness, reality and unreality, returning to reality ultimately remains the most difficult challenge. Through deep experiences and dark ambient accompaniment, she sets matter and thoughts into motion in this fascinating introspective journey towards darkness.
REVIEW
A darkened inner landscape, images that surface as the breath slows—can generative AI render visions from the deepest realms of the mind? Inspired by the Tibetan Buddhist practice of darkness meditation, Viera Čákanyová’s Bardo pushes this question to its radical edge. The director’s meditative voice, recorded while she remained in complete darkness, becomes the raw material from which a simple generative AI tool produces images. Through post-production, these AI-generated visuals drift between figuration and abstraction before dissolving into the pure flicker and flow of light. Created through a process that moves entirely against the logic of photographic representation, this digital stream invites a fundamental redefinition of perception itself. Here, the boundaries between natural and artificial, human and machine, dissolve—opening a space where new forms of sensing can emerge.
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
It is very refreshing and inspiring to step outside the human perspective and explore the interconnectedness of all life and matter. The opportunity to momentarily "become" a giant sequoia, a blind mole, the Earth's core, or an embryo about to be born opens up a fascinating space for imagination. The short film Bardo takes the form of an audiovisual meditation, attempting to convey the essence of an experience in complete darkness. Darkness therapy, inspired by the Tibetan Buddhist practice of yangtik, involves retreating into isolation, silence, and pitch darkness to deepen self-awareness.
CONTACT
Disco Sailing
alexandra@discosailing.com
