Zinzindurrunkarratz

Inspired by an old film found in his family archives, Oskar Alegría (The Search for Emak Bakia, 13th NH; Zumiriki, 20th NH) sets out on a hiking tour of the Basque wilderness, a path once walked by his father and grandfather, and shepherds before them, accompanied by a donkey named Paolo. He brings along an aged Super-8 camera, unused for over 40 years, to capture their journey along ancient Roman roads, observe the last farmers in deserted villages, and collect seemingly insignificant details to weave an intimate story about the search for the past. My grandfather completed this route in seven hours. We will take as long as we need to create a world, says Alegría. The journey on screen unfolds almost entirely in silence—the modern Super-8 tapes do not record audio—but the director adds new dimensions by incorporating separately recorded sounds, enriching the narrative. Titled Zinzindurrunkarratz, using onomatopoeias from the Basque language, the film merges documentary, found footage, and film essay, reminiscent of Bill Morrison's work. It serves as a metaphysical and witty meditation on the fleeting nature of memory, the passage of time, and the role of film as an art form dedicated to preserving the past.