Private Project

FUGUE

Plot
A female writer decided to step back from the outside world for a while, retreating to an abandoned house to focus on her novel. In the stillness of her isolation, another woman started to take shape in her mind—a fictional character who lives a life she wishes she could lead. This imagined figure draws her deeper into a world of her own making, slowly pulling her away from reality. Her life transforms into a parallel existence, crafted by her creativity, as this shadowy woman fills the gaps of her own unfulfilled desires.
Her reality becomes punctuated only by the brief visits from her husband, a man who feels increasingly distant, like a fading star from her past.
On her husband’s birthday, she finds herself at a crossroads: should she cut ties with the life she once knew, or hold on to it?

  • Elmira Yousefi Panah
    Director
  • Elmira Yousefi Panah
    Writer
  • Elmira Yousefi Panah
    Producer
  • Elmira Yousefi Panah
    Key Cast
  • Abolfazl salahshoor
    Key Cast
  • Project Title (Original Language):
    فوگ
  • Project Type:
    Experimental
  • Runtime:
    22 minutes 16 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    October 23, 2024
  • Country of Origin:
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Country of Filming:
    Iran, Islamic Republic of
  • Language:
    Persian
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    Yes
  • Student Project:
    No
Director - Elmira Yousefi Panah
Director Statement

This film explores various layers, including mythology, philosophy, and artistic references, but its most significant aspect is the use of the concept of "fugue" from classical music into cinema. In music, fugue means "escape," employing a polyphonic technique where multiple voices revolve around a central theme, repeating or interpreting it.
In this film, I have used this concept to develop the main character by drawing on other arts, such as painting, music, cinema, and mythology. This approach allows us to delve deeper into the character by repeating the subject in various forms, creating a richer and more intricate exploration of their personality and situation.

Unlike many films that are often sent from the Middle East, which emphasize specific geographical or cultural conditions, I have aimed to take a fresh look at the human being as a universal entity. This film is timeless and placeless, exploring the dance between the realms of form and formlessness. The question I pose in this film transcends borders and geography, as it is a fundamentally human question. Through this film, I challenge the core aspects of humanity—questions and experiences that are universally relatable, no matter where one is located.