Is there an activist, as well as an educational element, to the film?
Yes. You could say that there is an activist element, and I did translate a whole eco-poetry collection from German recently too, so, I am engaged with other artists’ works relating to this theme, but I’m not really an activist. The purpose of art is to ask questions – the answers will be formed in the viewers.
I was still working on the film when I visited the Planetarium in Armagh with a view of screening the film there and the visit inspired me in a way that I made the film accessible to children, I hope. At least I can say that I included sounds of children in it, too. I think the film and text work very strongly together, on people’s subconscious. Some people who have seen the film found it moving and I would hope along with that feeling, people would find the message thought provoking.
How have audiences responded?
People who came to see the film said that everyone gets something out of it. If people are engaged in thinking about ecology, or are thinking about Climate Change and the future of the planet, then the ring of fire was really moving for them. That there is a strong dilemma evoked when they see the person enclosed in the circle, surrounded by fire, and they can’t do anything else but use fossil fuels, yet they know that this is damaging the planet. That image works well for people.
The film was screened in a loop over four weeks during visiting hours and many schools visit the Planetarium daily. Kids’ feedback was very encouraging. They noted the courage – and this is amazing, as the ring of fire always represented courage in my mind. They also said that the images made them feel happy about living in this beautiful corner of the world, but also worried about the future.
And the poem?
The poem is very simple.
Victorious breath
Trees grow from the ashes
Of human sacrifice.
When I was working on the film I had to explain to the voice over actors, Sinead Lunny and Peter Sumadh, that we were not sacrificing humans as in ancient times, but rather we were arguing that humans have to make a sacrifice to save the planet. Yet, the last line itself feels double-edged- like a choice we collectively have to make, I feel.
You showed the film at the Planetarium in Armagh. How well did that venue work for the film?
The Copernicus Hall in Armagh Planetarium has three huge billboard size screens on three sides and you can walk into the space and you can experience the film from three different angles at the same time. Frist we were discussing the possibility of screening in the dome, but that would have meant that we could only show the film once or twice. In the Copernicus Hall the film could run for 4 weeks. It fitted well within an exhibition on Climate Change and so on the ground there was information posted about how NI might look in 2100. It was suggested that the Titanic would be underwater because the flood areas would increase. That is pretty frightening.
Where to now?
This funding has started me off on a new journey. I became very interested in immersive art and technology. I attended a conference on immersive art in Budapest where there is a Museum of Light. I hope, the film will be screened in an immersive environment again one day, but there are many other possibilities for presentation. There is a lot of footage left as well that I can work with and create something new.
To see more of Csilla Toldy’s work go to the following link – www.csillatoldy.co.uk/
