★

The starry sky has been looking down on film characters since the very beginning of cinema. Meanwhile, Austrian artist Johann Lurf arranges historical shots of the night sky chronologically, creating an extraordinary atlas of stars. Lurf's intricate film is a cosmic journey through space-time. He shows cinema's fixation on the cosmos and the range of emotions it has aroused in both characters and viewers: from fear and delight in the first silent films, through hope and the arrogance of the conquerors of the cosmos, to melancholy and finally absolute silence. The constellations shown in the film are accompanied by an original soundtrack: ambient noise and large orchestral pieces, as well as pedantic explanations and dreamy speculations. The night sky in film is filled with countless languages, perspectives and hopes. The film evokes the most beautiful and saddest moments in cinema; it is a symphony of humanity's nocturnal fears and silent hopes. ★ is a film for hopeless dreamers, amateur astrologers and the lovestruck.