Grey Zone

Daniela Meressa Rusnoková / Slovakia / 2024 / International Premiere / 75 min.

synopsis

Some doctors refer to the situation of babies born long before term as a grey zone. At 24 weeks, the fetus is not yet legally perceived as a full human being and the pregnancy can be terminated prematurely. This introspective documentary puts us in the position of a mother inextricably linked to her child who, directly from birth, is given only slim chances of survival by the doctors. The film's tribute to mothers and families of premature babies stands out for the harrowing yet disarming honesty with which the director speaks of her own feelings of fear, humiliation, hopelessness, and hope as her son makes further progress.

“Through the intimate confession of a mother, the documentary portrays the often traumatic reality of premature birth, the special care for a premature newborn or later a child with special needs or disabilities.”

Source quote: Film profile at AVF

biography

Daniela Meressa Rusnoková (1980) is a Slovak photographer and filmmaker. Her documentary work focuses on social issues within different minorities and cultures. From 2000 to 2003, she participated in ethnographic research in Roma settlements in Slovakia and her photographs were published in the book Phurikane giľa.

more about film

director:	Daniela Meressa Rusnoková
producer:	Jana Belišová
script:	Daniela Meressa Rusnoková, Zuzana Mojžišová
photography:	Radka Šišuláková, Jonathan Ryan King, Elisabeth Meressa, Pavol Pekarčík, Tereza Michalová
editing:	Alexandra Gojdičová, Tereza Michalová, Jonathan Ryan King, Mária Hirgelová
music:	Lenka Šiller, Ivan Šiller
sound:	Richard Fűlek
sound design:	Richard Fülek
co-producer:	Slovenská televízia a rozhlas, Meressa Company, Punkchart Films
executive producer:	Daniela Meressa Rusnoková