Forest in Me (trailer)

‘The Forest in Me’ opens out from a personal story about living with uncertainty, to reflect upon quiet possibilities of love and human connection.

The film interweaves the story of Agafya Lykova, an 80-year-old hermit surviving alone in the Siberian Forest who scares bears away by banging on space-rocket debris, a crew simulating life on Mars in isolation on a Hawaiian volcano, and the filmmaker’s child discovering the world. Juxtaposing Siberian forests and volcanic vistas, she draws images from her personal film footage growing up in Hastings, East Sussex, an archive spanning over twenty-five years. Together, these threads form a 'letter to the future' from a mother to her son, reflecting on resilience and timeless human experiences.

The soundtrack, composed by the ensemble Xylouris White, (drummer Jim White [Dirty Three], Cretan lutist Giorgos Xylouris, Guy Picciotto of NYC [Fugazi]) adds a haunting, immersive layer to the experience. Apollonia Xylouris contributes additional vocals.

2024

69mins