The director Kirill Komar was born in Odesa, Ukraine in 1994 and grew up in Germany. He has been based in Vienna since 2013. He began his directorial career working in music videos and commercials before turning his focus to filmmaking. He has written and directed two short films, Aysu and Yuragim, both in collaboration with Varia Garib.
Originally from Uzbekistan, the director Varia Garib is now based in Vienna. She first studied art history, followed by filmmaking at the School of New Cinema. Since 2023, she has been working together with Kirill Komar.
What was your starting point for „Yuragim“?
Our starting point was a deep affection for Central Asia (Uzbekistan in particular) and its people. Varia began writing the film from a personal connection to her home country several years ago, which led us to research the experiences of women in Uzbekistan and the ways in which they often feel unheard. At the same time, the story is universal. It is about reclaiming one’s own agency in a world that often pressures people (especially women and children) into silence.
The film, of course, does not claim to portray the truth, but rather reflects our impression of the reality.
Do you have a favorite moment in the film? Which one and why this one in particular?
It is hard to choose just one, but it would probably be one of the scenes on the train. The camera moves from the protagonist, Saida, who is surrounded by men, toward the window as if trying to escape the space. When it returns to the initial position, Saida is suddenly surrounded by women in traditional clothes. This moment captures the dualities of the country somehow. It was a true miracle that we were lucky enough to capture (this single scene significantly influenced the editing of the entire film).
What do you like about the short form?
The short form is a great space to experiment and discover what filmmaking is about, to start defying our method, style, strengths and weaknesses. It is also a way to find the people you want to embark on a longer journey with (ideally).
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Berlinale Shorts 