IFFI 2024: Bohdan Sláma’s ‘Dry Season’ Closes Festival with a Powerful Message on Sustainability

Goa: The 55th International Film Festival of India (IFFI) culminated in grandeur with the screening of its closing film, Dry Season (Sukho), directed by acclaimed Czech filmmaker Bohdan Sláma. The Press Conference, organized by the Press Information Bureau, shed light on the film’s poignant exploration of environmental challenges, family dynamics, and generational divides.

Set against the lush backdrop of verdant fields, Dry Season tells the compelling story of Josef, a fifty-year-old farmer pursuing an alternative, sustainable lifestyle with his wife, Eva, and their three children. The narrative intensifies with Josef’s conflict with Viktor, a profit-driven agribusiness owner, as a parched summer leaves the village without drinking water. The tension between the families is further complicated by Viktor’s fraught relationship with his estranged son, who returns during the crisis.

Director Bohdan Sláma emphasized the universal connection between humanity and the environment, urging the need for collective action to protect natural resources. “Safeguarding the environment is akin to safeguarding the human spirit,” he remarked, reflecting on the film’s core theme. Sláma also shared insights into the meticulous crafting of the screenplay, which took three years and underwent 11 revisions, highlighting the collaborative effort that brought the story to life.

Producer Petr Oukropec addressed the hurdles of financing and creating art-house cinema in smaller nations, underlining the importance of international collaboration in bringing stories like Dry Season to a global audience. “The film resonates universally by addressing pressing themes such as sustainability, family, and the generational divide,” Oukropec noted, expressing his pride in the film’s relevance in today’s world.

The filmmakers urged younger audiences to take responsibility for shaping a sustainable future. By mirroring contemporary challenges, Dry Season serves as a catalyst for critical conversations about the delicate balance between humanity and nature.

Concluding the session, Sláma expressed hope that the film would inspire global audiences, fostering dialogue not only in India but across the world. Dry Season, with its intricate narrative and profound themes, proved to be a fitting conclusion to the prestigious festival, reminding viewers of the intertwined destinies of humanity and the planet.

IFFI 2024, with its eclectic mix of films and discussions, reaffirms its commitment to cinema as a medium for meaningful reflection and dialogue.