Architecton

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• Location: Filmhuis Den Haag

In Architecton, Victor Kossakovsky uses breathtaking images to explore the impact of our architecture on nature and civilization, and calls for building with modesty.

Victor Kossakovsky’s Architecton is a stunning visual exploration of the relationship between architecture, nature, and civilization, with concrete as its central symbol—representing both creation and destruction. Kossakovsky poses urgent questions about how we build, calling for a conscious and sustainable approach before it’s too late. Through hypnotic imagery, accompanied by the enchanting soundtrack of Evgueni Galperine, he connects historic sites such as the ancient ruins of Baalbek, Turkish cities destroyed by earthquakes, and bombed-out buildings in Ukraine. At the heart of the film is a landscape project by architect Michele De Lucchi, whose “magic circle”—a place where humans are not welcome—advocates for humility in the face of nature.

Following his acclaimed documentaries Aquarela (2018) and Gunda (2020), award-winning documentary filmmaker Victor Kossakovsky turns his lens to the world of architecture with Architecton. This poetic visual study follows Italian architect Michele De Lucchi and presents breathtaking footage of ancient ruins, contemporary structures, and recent devastation caused by the 2023 earthquake in Turkey and the war in Ukraine. With an observational gaze, Kossakovsky examines how our way of building shapes our civilization. Architecton premiered last year at the Berlin International Film Festival and was screened at IDFA.

'Visual meditation on creation and transience' - VPRO Cinema (★★★★)

'A condemnation of the exploitation that humanity inflicts on the Earth' - de Volkskrant (★★★★)

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