Snescha and Franz

Sunny Beach at socialist Bulgaria, the summer of 1967. 19-year-old Bulgarian SNESCHA meets FRANZ, an 18-year-old Austrian lad. They dance and talk, he is speaking German and she – Bulgarian, and despite the language barrier, they fall in love. In 1975 they get married and leave for Austria. SNESCHA gets pregnant and gives birth to twin sisters. FRANZ embarks to an expedition in Iran and Pamir. SNESCHA gives birth to a third daughter. His next adventure is passing the river Niger to the city of Bamako in Mali. After that he goes back to Austria and buys a house on credit. In 1987 he decides to make a bicycle tour going through Tibet. Despite SNESCHA’s disagreeing, he sets for Pakistan and never comes back. SNESCHA has to take care of her daughters and pay for the house.

Director’s statement

I remember I was 10 already, when I learned that Uncle FRANZ wanted to make a bicycle tour all over China. Mom said that Aunt SNESCHA with tears in her eyes was trying to convince him not to go. Then, during the years, I found his super 8 mm films and his letter to SNESCHA and their kids:

Why do I do this?

Yes, the difference between the individual wishes and longings and the common family wishes exists. I know those contradictions and try to see them or at least hold out. I try to do more things with you, to go on and find a good balance. I hope our measurements for balance are close. The center of the story-line will be the story of SNESCHA. A woman who was in the shadow of her beloved man and who, after his tragic death, had to learn to see the world in color again.

The film is going to be based on a virtual dialogue between SNESCHA now 70 years old, living in Austria, and FRANZ, who will be speaking through the immense archive of photos, super 8mm film and texts.