Wind, Talk To Me Review (2025 International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025)

A family sit together for Wind Talk To Me

‘Wind, Talk to Me’ is a title that doesn’t exactly do justice to the picture it represents—a soft, reflective docu-fiction centred around reconnection through grief and nature. This gentle piece of poetry just doesn’t sit right behind the imperative tone of its name.

Director Stefan Djordjevic returns to the countryside of his hometown, Bor, Serbia, and to the family of his late mother in an attempt to complete a film, tribute to her, and initiate a reunion with those who shared the loss of the same beloved person. The campsite near a lake, where they stay, once served as his mother’s refuge, the place where she chose to respond to her illness. A fusion of past footage of his mother, present recordings of the family, and shots of preparatory filming shapes this modest gem into what we refer to as docu-fiction. Mind, though, that there is no reenactment or reconfiguration of past events, nor any type of reconstruction. Stefan steps in front of the camera, not as an actor but as himself, as prescribed by the occasion of conversations with family members. Together, they navigate loss and participate in small, poignant happenings, unpacking the emotional implications of their reunion while the camera quietly observes.

This injection of spontaneous yet meaningful events distinguishes the film from the open sea (admittedly, wild) of docu-fiction. It permits a carefully crafted narrative to unfold, bringing a gentle but undeniable sense of progression and acknowledgment that we, the external eye, are following.

Though deeply personal, ‘Wind, Talk to Me‘ reaches beyond the confines of Stefan’s own experience, inviting viewers to connect and relate. Nature, a central theme, is captured with meticulous care, revealing the beauty his mother cherished in a landscape with such a captivating colour palette. However, what truly elevates the film are the laconic exchanges between family members and the profound (spontaneous, I trust) dialogues that resonate with the film’s central themes. Despite their lack of professional acting experience, each family member holds onto their authenticity, likely due to their comfort with the director’s presence. This is no small achievement; self-consciousness and forced performances are pitfalls that often plague cinema till today.

As Stefan explores the philosophy of life his mother embraced, replicating her small acts in nature, he allows the camera to remain still in persistently long shots. This contemplative approach, a hallmark of meditative cinema, is rarely executed as immersively as it is here. The camera’s stillness invites viewers to experience moments of quiet revelation, where the world seeps in. Without realizing it, I was repetitively taken away to a meditative reverie, guided by thin and repetitive sounds that act as transitional signals, guiding the audience from action to introspection and back again.

One standout scene features Stefan finding his grandmother seated on a stone wall extending from the house. When he joins her, for curiosity about what thoughts are occupying her mind, a good four-minute scene unfolds, with the two engaging in a crystalline, slow, and liberating dialogue, while persistently gazing at each other. The scene exemplifies the gentle orchestration imbued throughout, in all the demanding layers of the film.

The most emotionally generous and clearly articulated thread of ‘Wind, Talk to Me‘ is embodied by Lija, Stefan’s dog and a catalyst for the story of healing. Introducing this delicate relationship of care and protection subtly mirrors the dynamic of a mother seeking healing while her son observes, but in reverse. Lija’s presence is seamlessly integrated, her character fitting perfectly into the film’s narrative. And such a successful delivery, as Lija’s character fits like a glove to her given role, and magnified by her performance. I must ignore any banal associations, but indeed, this dog encapsulates the emotional weight of the timeline of this story, and overflows the film with soothing tears.

‘Wind, Talk To Me’ had its world premiere at International Film Festival Rotterdam 2025, at the Tiger Competition section. 


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