Fiction and documentary filmmaker Péter Kerekes ventured into a documentary subject he initially had little interest in—until he encountered the captivating personality of a small-town astrologer in Italy. This astrologer’s unique methodology for forging love connections completely changed his perspective — he had to sit back and listen to the interactions (not knowing any words in Italian) to understand her process. Following the premiere of 107 Mothers (check out our interview) at the Venice Film Festival in 2021, the Slovakian director continues to explore the hybrid documentary realm with his latest work, Wishing on a Star (2024), also selected for the Lido. Reminiscent of the quirky charm of found in The Mole Agent with a visual style reminiscent of Ulrich Seidl’s documentaries, the film delves into how individuals are cared for by way of making a “connection”.
At the 2024 Marrakech International Film Festival, I had the opportunity to speak with Kerekes, gaining deeper insight into his process. He shared how he carefully selected his documentary participants, his thoughtful approach to portraying them, and the deliberate visual compositions that bring their world to life, shaping the narrative(s) in a compelling and nuanced way.
