Solvent

While searching an Austrian farmhouse for Nazi documents, a team of experts discovers a hidden secret in the depths of the building. The American expat Gunner S. Holbrook becomes increasingly obsessed with solving the mystery. As his sanity threatens to fade, he finds himself facing the abyss more and more. Can he find redemption before it sucks the life out of him?

Director's statement by Johannes Grenzfurthner:

‘Solvent delves into the haunting shadows of history, where past sins return in surreal and unexpected ways. At the centre is the confrontation with the horrors of history - interwoven into a narrative that is as disturbing as it is entertaining. A project about memory, guilt and the human struggle to confront the darkest secrets.

My connection to this story is deeply personal. The film was shot on my maternal grandparents' dilapidated farm - a place that bridges the gap between past and present, between reality and fiction. The character Wolfgang Zinggl, portrayed by photographs of my grandfather Otto Zucker, embodies the complex legacy of the Second World War. This portrayal addresses the silence and repression that have characterised many German and Austrian families - including my own - for generations. Many of Zinggl's statements come verbatim from conversations I overheard - from neighbours, passers-by or in online forums.’

Grenzfurthner Birthday Bash
17:30 HACKING AT LEAVES
19:30 SOLVENT followed by a discussion with Johannes Grenzfurthner