Chairman (2021)

Eik Erik Sikk’s short fiction film tells the story of a chairman of the Writer’s Union, who needs to give an important speech, but soon finds out that he really has nothing to say.

The parliament is trying to enforce a bill prohibiting the sale of literature they consider vulgar or erotic in local stores and a strong opposing speech is expected from the head of the Writer’s Union (Erik Richard Salumäe), as many consider him a valid authority in this topic.
Three days before the press conference, due to his best friend Edgar’s (Hardi Möller) sudden opposition to his creation, the man starts to feel insecure, unsettled with the fact that he must be the one to fill the role of a hero figure speaking the message that the public will follow. He has already got the words, but they seem hollow, untrue and mechanical. Resulting from this emotional setback, he dives into a carousel of fever dreams, where his pre-written speech is turned to dust by his inner critic.
After a turmoil of surreal pictures taking place on a shore in his dreams, he floats back to reality, quietly accepting the fact that he has nothing to say other than reflecting the empty words of those before him and smearing them with his fingerprints. Surrendered, the chairman walks away, as Edgar gives his speech

Keywords: self-censorship | performance | protest | beach | betrayal | dreams | View all »