mud (2023)

set in an undisclosed mud bath facility in russia, the film follows the humdrum activities of its staff and visitors, subtly hinting at the ongoing war through the static of news snippets, subtle details, and glimpses of wounded soldiers rehabilitating at the facility. the characters' indifference to the atrocities unfolding nearby provides an unsettling and thought-provoking snapshot of silent collective ignorance, feeding recurring cycles of violence and suffering. the oversized title is designed to encapsulate the totality of the propaganda-infused 'mud-mind' and the irony of mud cleansing in the given circumstances. meanwhile, the uniform titles, inspired by archival documents and old films, echo the repetitive nature of mundane tasks carried out by the film’s subjects and the cyclical nature of history.
mud premiered at the idfa 2023 festival.