Ferenc Kenéz: Close up the house

The film is an experimental adaptation of a poem by Transylvanian-born Ferenc Kenéz, which depicts the desire of escaping from the Socialist Republic of Romania, but also the hesitation to leave an old life behind. The poem explores themes of passing, memory preservation, and the closing of life chapters, while also alluding to the autocratic atmosphere of the Ceaușescu era. The diverse, fragmented visuals form a layered, palimpsest-like backdrop. A central line—“We have to close, close up the house”—repeats like a mantra, giving the poem a dramatic rhythm. This refrain reflects the speaker’s inner struggle: though they know they must leave the house, memories keep them lingering. The repetition becomes a self-reminder to stop hesitating and move on from nostalgia.