Portal to Peace

“Portal of Peace” is about a ritual in a cemetary in Havana: In countries that have no tradition of cremation, cemetaries fill up rapidly. In order to make room for new graves, the remains of the dead are dug up some years after the funeral. Next-of-kin are invited to attend this ritual. It takes place every morning in a cemetary in Havana which is the location for this cinematic poem about life in terms of annihilation. The music pieces are requiems by various composers. “Portal of Peace” was in competition at more than a dozen international film festivals. The film is a personal, provoking, cinematographic essay about life and death, the inevitable annihilation, hope and faith, and about the strong reactions these invoke – from enthusiasms to rejection.