11 November, Saint Petersburg

After some hesitation between Rotterdam and St. Petersburg, Alonso Casale chose the Russian port: 'I have some images in mind which I want to catch: the invisible presence of the underwater light and underwater air in a city like Saint Petersburg; the scratching sound of little fish in plastic bags belonging to fisherman along the River Neva. The movement of light and time is very special in ports.' Apparently you cannot force poetry like this. On the first attempt, the magic stayed away and the film-maker returned home empty handed. During a second visit, the muse did speak out. (GjZ) Nathalie Alonso Casale (1970, Paris) moved to Holland in 1974. In 1992 she graduated from the Dutch Film and Television Academy with the widely-praised film Memorias sin batallas. Alonso Casale is also actress and editor.