Prisjádim na dorozhku

Its unusual length (ten hours), the very personal approach and the origins (as travelogue), give Prisjádim na dorozku the character of an uncensored diary. Michael Pilz made this video film (if this is not an expression, then it should be) during a journey to Siberia with the Dutch photographer Bertien van Manen. A travelogue in the footsteps of a photographer, and the film also leaves a trail. Pilz regards the film as a meditation about what is distance and what is near, what is strange and familiar, about a winter journey, about hearing and observing, about images and images making themselves. The film is so full of everyday simplicity that the advent of an old and full bus in the small Siberian village Apanas works like a sensational action scene. The title Prisjádim na dorozku, 'Let's have a sit down before we leave', refers to the old Russian custom of sitting down just before leaving on a journey so the traveller could gather his thoughts. In order to make filming easy in the most barren in Siberia and in the most intimate situations in people's homes, Pilz rejected his initial intention to use 16mm film material. He preferred to use inconspicuous Hi8 video. According to Pilz it is not necessary to see the film straight through in one go. The film can be approached as a person who you can get to know after various long or short encounters.