Screening:

Artavazd Pelechian,
Nature, 2019

Artavazd Peleshian’s Nature (2019) marks a profound return to cinema after a 27-year hiatus, and it stands as a culmination of his lifelong exploration of humanity’s precarious relationship with the natural world. Unlike his earlier works, which often utilized original footage, Nature is constructed almost entirely from found footage sourced from the internet. Peleshian meticulously gathered amateur videos capturing natural disasters—tsunamis, volcanic eruptions, floods, and other cataclysmic events—creating a visual symphony that underscores the overwhelming power and indifference of nature. Employing his signature “distance montage” technique, Peleshian assembles these disparate clips into a cohesive and rhythmic narrative. This method transcends traditional linear editing by creating a magnetic field of associations, allowing the viewer to experience the collective emotional and thematic weight of the images . The result is a film that is both abstract and deeply affecting, evoking a sense of awe and vulnerability in the face of nature’s might. Nature is devoid of dialogue, relying instead on a powerful classical music score featuring compositions by Beethoven, Mozart, Shostakovich, and Armenian composers. This sonic landscape complements the visual montage, reinforcing the film’s emotional resonance and thematic depth.