Sebastian Mez
2012 | 84 minutes | Germany, Russia
U.S. Premiere | Director in Attendance
A harrowing cinematic conjuring of a danger that can’t be physically perceived and of the strength of a people who bear its weight, Metamorphosen chronicles life near the Mayak nuclear facility in Russia’s Southern Urals region. Still in operation, Mayak was the first plant for the production of fissile material for nuclear weapons in the Soviet Union. Although unknown to the general public, accident upon accident at Mayak repeatedly irradiated the area, affecting the people and nature in the area in untold ways. This carefully constructed documentary, more impressionistic than investigative, explores the impact of those accidents, illuminating along the way the resilience of those who coexist with this constant, invisible menace.
Co-presented by CEC Artslink