“Arni”, interview with the director Dorka Vermes

September 9, 2023

Dorka Vermes, director , "Arni". Nocturnal, a dark tale of resilience and liberation, in the confined world of a travelling circus.

"Arni", interview with the director Dorka Vermes Angelo Acerbi

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The sensitive “Arni” by Dorka Vermes is small guy, a solitaire living in a travelling circus. His life is the exemplification of loneliness and strength at te same time. Following his transformation through the meeting with a snake, the film is an allegory for the resilience and stubbornness that minorities and excluded have to endure in order to survive in our world. “Arni” by Dorka Vermes“Arni” by Dorka Vermes has been presented at Biennale College Cinema 2023.

The perfect actor

There is a longterm collaboration between Dorka Vermes and the actor Péter Turi, whose body and face and personality have been the major inspiration for the writing of the film. His powerful performance and his on-screen charisma bring the film to a higher level of intensity.

Shooting the snake(s)

Two snakes were used for the shooting , one bigger and one smaller, that Péter Turi should interact with physically. Some CGI was forcefully needed, with a serious impact on the budget and timings required by the Biennale College rules.

Plot

Sensitive and bird-like Árni works as a handyman at a small and dingy travelling circus touring in rural areas. The troupe is made up from a family that runs the circus, where Árni is the only non-family member. He lives like a monk, his days revolve around feeding the animals and doing various works for the circus. The circus gets a new python, and the creature piques Árni’s curiosity. As he starts taming it, the process gradually makes an impact on him.

Written by: Angelo Acerbi

Péter Turi