Batrachian's Ballad

The film opens with a voiceover: “Once upon a time, before people came along, all the creatures were free and able to be with one another.” It continues, “All the animals danced together and were immeasurably happy. There was only one who wasn’t invited to the celebration – the frog. In his rage about the injustice, he committed suicide.” The narrative draws a parallel between frogs and the Romani people, who are often overlooked but never truly unseen. In her film, young director Leonor Teles intertwines the current life circumstances of the Romani in Portugal with memories of the past. Rather than remaining a passive observer, Teles actively participates and takes a clear position. A third element in her approach is the integration of applied performance art into the cinematic narrative, transforming “once upon a time” into “there is.” An off-camera voice concludes: “Afterwards, nothing will be as it was and the melody of life will have changed.” The film received the Golden Bear for Best Short Film in 2016.