Instead of presenting us the concept that death is the end of everything, Laboratory No 2 (Edris Abdi, Awara Omer Saeed, 2021) tries to give us their contradictory two cents. Through the life of an old man who works in an autopsy ward, this film invites us to see death in a different way. Death is a form of courage.
The Old Man cared for a corpse that he met every day for 14 years. If he could give the corpse the gift of life, he would do so with open arms. “All the doctors in this city learned a lot from this corpse. If there is a reward for that, this corpse deserves it.” With a steady pace, Laboratory No. 2 (2021) invites us to understand dedication and treat it with care. Just like Old Man, the movie calmly tells the story of a seemingly constant and ordinary life. Through Old Man, we can also see how precious the seemingly ordinary things are.
As the minutes unfold, we come to the Old Man’s conviction over his retirement plan. He is more and more certain of the decision he is about to make. The film ends with the recital of the will he wrote for his children. The motionless corpses become good listeners to his tales and thoughts. He is sure that until the end, he neither wants nor will leave them.
Laboratory No. 2 (2021) opens up a different way of looking at the idea of death, loneliness, and surviving life. The complementary visual and sound design adds to the experience of watching this 15-minute film. Let’s guess together what the Old Man plans to do in his will! Laboratory No. 2 (2021) is selected in Docs Docs: Short! Festival Film Dokumenter 2023. (bonivasios dwi) (Vanis)
Film Details
Laboratory No. 2 (تاقیگەی ژمارە 2)
Edris Abdi, Awara Omer Saeed | 16 Min | 2021 | Iraq | Color | 17+
Screening Schedule
12.05 | Auditorium IFI-LIP | 14.30 WIB
12.08 | Gedung ex Bioskop Permata | 15.30 WIB
