RITES

short movie, 2022

A twelve-year-old Michal was born with a cleft lip. He feels inadequate because of his deformed face. His only friend Ondra convinces him to join a street gang to finally break free from a position of an outsider. Two friends have one afternoon to show they have what it takes to pass the admission to the gang. Michal desperately wants to prove he is good enough, but the tempting adventure suddenly turns into an initiation ritual into adulthood.

director: Damian Vondrasek
dop: Krystof Melka
costume designer: Linda Vondraskova
editor:Jakub Podmanicky
production: Backgroundfilm (CZ)
premiered: FilmFestival Cottbus, 2022