Pryč

As the 19th Pragueshorts Film Festival approaches, cinephiles eagerly anticipate the world premiere of Pryč (Gone), a compelling short film directed by Piotr Jasiński. Scheduled to run from February 26 to March 2, 2025, in Prague's renowned cinemas— including Světozor, Bio Oko, Ponrepo, and Kino Pilotů — the festival celebrates the art of short filmmaking.

Pryč offers a poignant narrative centered on Jindra and his daughter Bára, who, after a sleepless New Year's Eve, embark on a quest to find their missing dog. This challenging journey reopens unresolved conflicts, with Bára blaming Jindra not only for the lost pet but also for his recent separation from her mother. As they wander through desolate fields, Jindra strives to prove his worth as a father and individual.

This film marks a significant milestone for Jasiński, a Polish director based in Warsaw, who is completing his Directing MA at FAMU International. His previous work, the short documentary Everything’s Fine, Potatoes in Line, garnered the Best Short Documentary Award and Audience Award at the Warsaw Film Festival 2022 and was longlisted for the Oscars.

Pryč is a co-production involving CineSud, with contributions such as color correction and visual effects completed in the Netherlands.

What was the inspiration behind Pryč?

"The inspiration for the Pryč screenplay came from the growing uncertainty that increasingly accompanies our generation when making decisions about parenthood. Rising awareness about mental health issues raises doubts about whether, given our own vulnerabilities, we can successfully fulfill the role of a parent."

How does the search for the dog act as a metaphor for their relationship? 

"The dog's escape serves as a metaphor for the relationship that Jindra and Bara have essentially lost after parents' divorce. Similar to searching for their pet, they're unsure which direction to take to repair their relationship."

How does the film explore the complexities of fatherhood and masculinity?

"Jindra, who has been struggling with depression and loneliness for some time, suddenly must face a seemingly hopeless situation. Beyond confronting his own demons, he must become a source of support for his teenage daughter, who blames him not only for the dog's escape but also for the family's breakdown."

How does the setting contribute to the film's atmosphere and themes?

"Hopelessness: the emotion we wanted to emphasize through the mise-en-scène and atmosphere. It mirrors what's happening inside Jindra's mind and, in a way, reflects the state of his relationship with his daughter."

Was the fear of failure in parenthood inspired by personal experiences?

"The inspiration came from observing our immediate environment and, indirectly, the steadily rising divorce rates in the Czech Republic. Our own fears about not being able to meet the challenges of parenthood also played a role."

What conversations do you hope Pryč will spark?

"We hope the film will contribute increased awareness about mental health. Parents often face criticism, and society's expectations of their role are enormous. We rarely consider that problems in parent-child relationships might stem from the parent's mental health challenges."

What were the challenges of directing such emotionally charged content?

"We devoted considerable effort to casting. We paired potential actors together and tried to understand whether they looked like a family through the camera lens, considering both visual aspects and chemistry. After making our choices and spending long hours discussing the script, the on-set work focused on precise blocking and refining rhythm. Working with such talented actors was a pleasure."

How did you work with your DOP to create the visual style?

"This wasn't our first project together. We extensively discuss the emotions we want to emphasize on screen. In this case, we opted for a minimalist approach to film language to maintain focus on the actors' emotions."

How long was the shoot and where did it take place?

"We filmed for six days in the Ús Region (the north-west of Czech Republic)."

What were the biggest production challenges?

"Weather was our greatest unknown variable. Currently, to shoot a film in winter conditions in the Czech Republic, you need considerable luck. We were fortunate, but we constantly monitored the weather and hoped the snow wouldn't disappear with rising temperatures."

Any memorable moments from the set you want to share? 

"We used a camper van to keep actors comfortable during the sub-zero temperatures. Once, during a location change, the camper got stuck in a snow-filled valley. We couldn't continue shooting for several dozen minutes because the director and two main actors couldn't reach the location."

Why was Pragueshorts Film Festival the right premiere venue?

"Pragueshorts is the largest short film festival in the Czech Republic and is part of the Karlovy Vary Film Festival. Prague is ideal for a national premiere because the theaters always fill to capacity."