Perla

Vienna, 1981. Perla, an artist living in exile and a single mother, struggles to support her daughter Julia, a talented young pianist. When Julia's father Andrej is released from prison and claims to be seriously ill, Perla embarks on a dangerous journey back to communist Czechoslovakia. Torn between the past and the present, Perla makes ruthless decisions that jeopardize her future with her daughter.

The film was shot in 4:3 format. The director says: "We put a lot of thought into the visual resolution and often filmed through windows and door frames. The idea was to give people the feeling that they were constantly under observation and being spied on. We also shot in 4:3 format, which has an oppressive effect because it constricts the image more than we are used to today." (falter.at)