Ossarium (2018)

Ossarium (2018) - Czech Republic & Germany

Directed by: René Wiesner

ABOUT THE FILM:

First of all, I'd like to thank the director for giving me access to a screener copy.

Ossarium is a 10-minute short film that was created by independent director René Wiesner. It was shot in Germany and in the Czech Republic, on the grounds of the famous Sedlec Ossuary, an underground Roman Catholic chapel filled with the skeletal remains of anywhere from 40-70 thousand people, whose bones have been refurbished into decorations.

This short film has no dialogue, and features a young girl as she ventures into the Sedlec Ossuary to gander at its macabre beauty. We get endless shots of all the remains as well as various bits of religious symbolism along the way. The young lady then finds herself drawn to a particular skull, which she ends up taking away from the chapel, and then proceeds to examine and hold close to her as she stands in a forest.

REVIEW:

Despite this being the only work I've seen from this director, I can tell he seems to have a fascination with the macabre.

The camera lingers on shots of endless numbers of skulls and bones within the chapel, not shying away from the various different arrangements and artistically crafted furnishings. For good measure, we also get to see different pieces of Roman Catholic imagery, such as angels and Jesus on the cross.

It's definitely interesting to look at such a piece of history, and it is fascinating to see the dead displayed in such an artistic form. Whereas I commend the effort to give a narrative without dialogue, the focus seems to be drawn closer to the imagery within the chapel rather than the actual story.

What story is present is interesting, however it leaves questions with the viewer that beg an answer. I can understand the young lady's fascination with the dead. I mean, who isn't curious about death? But why does she take the skull and why does she just stand in the forest examining it? Is there something about this particular skull that personally means something to her? I feel like if that were a little further fleshed out, this short would be a lot better, and we would know more about her character.

However, the vague story is the only blemish on this record. The editing keeps things consistent, the camera work is smooth and helps establish each scene well, the lighting and colors look natural and help make everything pop out, and the background music is what really keeps you watching. The normal look of the settings contrasted by the low, ominous music may cause a feeling of unease or uncertainty in the viewer. The quiet music slowly swells and builds up, which will make the viewer curious as to what will happen next.

It's an interesting look at history as it stands. The unsettling displays of human remains makes for an interesting look into the history of the Czech Republic.

I feel this short works better for people with a special interest in the darker side of art and history, better than a proper short film. Regardless, I felt that Ossarium was still worth a watch.

RELEASES:

-Ossarium was released as part of René Wiesner's Pulp Films, a DVD collection of Wiesner's other shorts. This DVD was released in 2020 by Vile Video Productions and can be ordered here.