Prayer of the Sea, 6min., Germany
Directed by Martin Gerigk
A composer recounts a dream from his youth that inspired the slow movement of his first string quartet, Prayer of the Sea. The dream, depicting a peaceful dissolution into the sea and wind, symbolized his future death. Decades later, rediscovering a drawing from the quartet’s premiere – perfectly capturing the dream’s essence – revived its emotions. Now older, he reflects on the dream’s message: a serene acceptance of life’s inevitable end.
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1. What motivated you to make this film?
As a music composer, I occasionally dream of complete compositions. When I
wake up, I simply write them down. When I was about 20 years old, I dreamt
of such a piece for a string quartet. In the dream, I was standing in the
surf of a cold sea, facing north. Then, I dissolved into the wind and the
sea. It was clear that the dream symbolized my own death in the future.
Yet, there was nothing sad about it; it felt good and liberating. It was
like a vision, a gentle prophecy.
This led me to reflect: on one hand, I wanted to bring closure to the
dream’s experience and sensation for myself; on the other, I hoped to make
it emotionally tangible for others – a calm perspective on what lies ahead
for us all. The calmness of a gentle passing, something we can only hope to
experience one day.
2. From the idea to the finished product, how long did it take for you to
make this film?
About one year.
3. How would you describe your film in two words!?
Audiovisual elegy.
4. What was the biggest obstacle you faced in completing this film?
The technical merging of the photos and their subsequent animation.
5. There are 5 stages of the filmmaking process: Development.
Pre-Production. Production. Post-Production. Distribution.
What is your favorite stage of the filmmaking process?
Development and post-production.
6. When did you realize that you wanted to make films?
After that dream 30 years ago, I struggled repeatedly with making the film,
as the subject of one’s own death is not an easy one. But at some point, I
knew it was the right time and began to finish the film.
7. What film have you seen the most in your life?
Star Wars…
8. What other elements of the festival experience can we and other
festivals implement to satisfy you and help you further your filmmaking
career?
You are already doing a great job in my opinion!
9. You submitted to the festival via FilmFreeway. How has your experiences
been working on the festival platform site?
Always positive.
10. What is your favorite meal?
Shakshuka.
11. What is next for you? A new film?
My current film project is called Spheres. This time an homage to life.
It’s a poetic essay that drifts through a series of expanding spheres, each
revealing a different layer of our shared reality, from the microscopic to
the mythical. To me the new film is a breathing meditation designed to
remind us of the wonders of our incomprehensibly beautiful world.
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