“The hat is a relic of another time. It has it from my grandfather, a man of quiet wisdom and adventurous spirit. When he passed away, the hat became my inheritance, a tangible link to a man I deeply admired.
Over the years, that hat became more than just a piece of clothing; it became my traveling companion. Together, we ventured to far-flung corners of the world, exploring diverse cultures and traditions.
My grandfather’s hat was more than an heirloom; it was a bridge connecting generations, a silent companion on my odyssey through the diverse tapestry of humanity, a tangible reminder that the spirit of adventure lives on, passed down from one explorer to the next.”
“My journey to Romania – Letter from Timișoara” is about Timișoara as seen through the eyes of the Norwegian Christoffer, grandson of the famous journalist and writer Jahn Otto Johansen, who in the 1980s traveled to Romania and wrote a book about our country. The film follows Christoffer’s first trip to Timisoara. Christoffer sets out to see what Romania is today 30 years after his grandfather’s visit and tries to understand the interaction and contribution to today’s social, political, economic and cultural life of the main ethnic groups in the cultural capital of Europe.
In the face of losing a beloved person, one often seeks various ways of keeping them alive. When inheriting the hat, Christoffer has beautifully preserved the spirit of his father. Moreover, he dedicated himself to creating a movie, delving into the exploration of his father’s legacy. This theme, coupled with its narrative, offers a profound exploration of generation bonds and cultural intersections. This precious relic from another time invites you to explore the landscape of memory and discovery, by laying a rich tapestry of stories waiting to be unveiled. The Hat stand as a living testament to the silent dialogue between generations, sustained trough the visual medium. – Zhana Kalinova, curator