River to River

Platon Ogarev

Serbia (Čačak) I 2024 I 9 min

CREDITS:

Directing: Platon Ogarev

Cinematography: Platon Ogarev

Editing: Kait Harlow

Sound Recording & Design: Imogen Cowan

Production Manager: Nenad Pržulj

Executive producer: Predrag Živković

Producer: Dejan Petrović

Production: IFC Filmart

Synopsys:

River to River explores the river Zapadna Morava as both a vital part of the West Morava Valley and a powerful metaphor for the cyclical nature of human existence. The stream trickles into a river, coursing over rocks and logs. The river’s flow reflects the transient nature of life—how those who leave their homeland leave behind only fading traces. As the river shifts its course, these “vanishing footprints” remind us that our connections to places are temporary, with life always moving forward, leaving only memories behind. This cycle of change, of leaving and returning, runs like an undercurrent throughout our journey along the river. Rivers have always symbolized change, flow, and the passage of time in mythology, art, and religion. In River to River, we explore

these themes through personal stories, expressive camera work, and the use of folk music and religious elements. By minimizing dialogue and focusing on visceral, sensory experience, each layer of the film deepens the portrayal of life’s journey as reflected in the enduring flow of the river.