A Spring for the Thirsty has spent more than twenty years in the treasure chest of censorship and all that time led only a `legendary’ existence. The film was made in 1965, but could only be first screened in 1987 and has still only rarely been seen in the West. A Spring for the Thirsty is being screened at the festival alongside Ilyenko’s Swan Lake – The Zone from 1990.The film is far from realistic; according to its subtitle, A Spring for the Thirsty is a film parable. It is a sensitive, poetic film constructed of wonderful black & white shots , partially documentary, partially almost surrealistically fictional. The film is very symbolic, without being obscure or hermetic — and looks at elementary affairs such as life, death, marriage, child-bearing, drinking and eating.It focuses on a man living on the edge of the desert. His family has left and he remains behind with visions and memories. For instance reminiscences of the war or the report of his son’s death. The old man prepares for death and allows his life to pass before him. According to an age-old custom, the remaining relatives clean the well after his death.îThe mood and technique of the film are very reminiscent of masterpieces form the silent era, such as The Earth by Dovzhenko, and this effect is strengthened by the use of title texts. The sparing use of sound is precise and sober as in Breton’s work. The regular return of sad old songs confirm the melancholy poetic impression made by the film.
