Echo of You (Zara Zerny, 2023) invites us to take part in a journey. Not a journey to a beautiful destinations listed on a bucket list, but to the deepest corners of the souls of 80-year-old Danish men and women who bravely open the pages of their love stories that have gone by the wayside. We are invited to answer the question that is often evaded: how to move on after a loss?
Through intimate interviews, we get to experience the hopeful growth of love to the emptiness of separation, providing insight into how to deal with the lurking grief. Herein lies the strength of this documentary: not only does it depict grief, it also shows the process of the interviewees learning to come to terms with loss and finding new meaning in their lives. As the smells, sounds, and tastes of the departed haunt us, we see how they strive to move on.
Author is reminded of a poignant quote, “Be kind to your parents. It’s their first time living a life too.” Like a child who is learning, parents also experience a complex journey: falling in love, heartbreak, aloneness, and enjoyment intertwined in simplicity, like a scent that reminds us of precious moments. Regardless of age, every human being has a story filled with layers of emotions.
The experience presented by Echo of You (2023) is in line with the lyrics of the song “Gala Bunga Matahari” by Sal Priadi that you’ve been hearing a lot lately. It tells a similar journey of processing the love that has passed while celebrating the memories that remain. By experiencing, remembering, and cherishing every moment we’ve had, we can find a way to move on, like a sunflower that continues to search for the light, even after it gets dark.
While goodbyes are a part of life, the love we have still gives us the strength to carry on, remembering that each memory is a light that illuminates the path ahead. (Tirza Kanya) (Ed/Trans. Vanis)
Film Details
Echo of You (Ekko af Kærlighed)
Zara Zerny | 76 Min | 2023 | Denmark
In Competition for International Feature-Length
Festival Film Dokumenter 2024
Screening Schedule
Nov. 5 | 15:00 WIB | IFI-LIP
