In modern-day Berlin, Eva, a timid foley artist, moves around the world with both curiosity and caution. If quiet enough, she can be invisible to others, allowing her to explore parts of humanity most of us could never imagine. Her latest project, creating sound effects for a medication commercial starring a dark bay horse, releases Eva from her past inhibitions and transforms her physical form beyond the realm of possibility.
Described as an “erotic and sexual neo-Buñuelian pas de deux” (Clarisse Fabre, Le Monde), director Ann Oren fearlessly examines the extremes of the human sexual appetite and self-acceptance in this tale of magical realism. The film is the director’s adaptation of her own short film Passage (starring Colombian-German artist Simon(e) Jaikiriuma Paetau, who appears in this film as Eva’s troubled sibling Zara) which explored similar themes in a condensed format. In Piaffe, actress Simone Bucio offers audiences a daring performance as a woman, who, by exploring her innermost desires, becomes undeniably visible.
Simone Bucio, Sebastian Rudolph, Simon(e) Jaikiriuma Paetau, Bjørn Melhus, Sarah Nevada Grether, Lea Draeger
Germany
2022
In German and English with English subtitles
At International Village
At The Rio
Book Tickets
Missing VIFF? Check out what's playing at the VIFF Centre
The Secret Agent
Having run afoul of an influential bureaucrat in Brazil’s military dictatorship circa 1977, Marcelo decamps to Recife to live under an assumed name — but he’ll soon come to understand precisely how rampant the country’s corruption has become.
You Got Gold: A Celebration of John Prine
A remarkable line up of artists come together to share their love for the great American singer-songwriter John Prine, including Lucinda Williams, Steve Earle, Bonnie Raitt, Brandi Carlile, Jason Isbell, Kurt Vile and Kasey Musgraves.
Cutting Through Rocks
Winner of Sundance's World Cinema Documentary Grand Jury Prize, Cutting Through Rocks follows Sara Shahverdi — motorcyclist, midwife, and first-ever councilwoman elected in her Iranian village. A vérité triumph by Sara Khaki & Mohammadreza Eyni.
Fantasia
Walt Disney pushed the boundaries of animation and sound recording when he put together a movie concert: eight classical pieces by Bach, Beethoven, Stravinski et al, each animated in a different style. It's playful, sometimes cute, other times inspired.
Image: © Disney, 1940
Credits
Producer
Kristof Gerega, Sophie Ahrens, Fabian Altenried
Screenwriter
Ann Oren, Thais Guisasola
Cinematography
Carlos Vasquez
Editor
Ann Oren, Haim Tabakman
Original Music
Munsha, äbvsd, VTSS
Director
Ann Oren
Born in Tel Aviv, Ann Oren is a visual artist and filmmaker. She studied film and fine arts at The School of Visual Arts in New York. Her artworks have been presented in institutions including The Moscow International Biennale for Young Art, Hammer Museum, Tel-Aviv Museum, Anthology Film Archives, apexart, and KINDL – Zentrum für zeitgenössische Kunst. After moving to Berlin in 2015, her artistic focus shifted from video art and installations to cinema. She directed Passage in 2020, a 16mm short film that serves as a prequel to Piaffe.