Aristoteles Workshop: “Ionaș Dreams of Rain” and “Vasile”, at Astra Film Festival 2017

     Ionaș visează că plouă / Ionaș Dreams of Rain (directed by Dragoș Mihai-Hanciu) and Vasile (directed by Sakari Suuronen), two of the documentaries produced by Aristoteles Workshop (AW) in 2016, are part of the official selection of the 24th Edition of Astra Film Festival. The films entered the race for two of the awards granted within the international festival and may be viewed between 16 - 22 October, in Sibiu.

     Selected in the Docschool competition, Ionaș Dreams of Rain, directed by Dragoș Hanciu, follows the story of an old man from an isolated village of Maramureș. Finding himself in a constant battle with time, the man spends his nights trying to protect his corn field against wild boars. The cinematography was signed by Ileana Szasz, and the editing and sound track by Maria Bălănean.
     The documentary Vasile, invited to the shorts competition, was made at the 11th Edition of Aristoteles Workshop by a team made up of Sakari Suuronen, Ruxandra Pintilie and Diana Rusu. The film focuses on the story of Vasile Onea from Maramureș, who manages to capture beauty in any banal or small thing, aided by his camera. From hay stacks' building to lazy dogs hiding away from the heat, Vasile transformed his modest home into a live, telling monument of the passing moments.
     This year's selection also includes other two films directed by former students of Aristoteles Workshop: Eu sunt Hercule / I Am Hercules, directed by Marius Iacob - participant to the 2007 edition and The Side Street of Europe, directed by Ambrus Emese, participant to AW 2008.

(Translated by Stela Moise)