Locus amoenus

Directed by Tommaso Falcade, Jiachang He

Synopsis:
"Locus Amoenus" depicts a picturesque setting of an idyllic pleasant place, a natural area of repose and relaxation. The film stages an era when human beings are liberated from the traditional labor-intensive activities; drones and machines take over the surveillance and implementation tasks. The previous productive activities are replaced by loose boredom and ritualistic ones.
"Locus Amoenus", as a literature construct, can also mean a place of guise, hiding and hinting something more sinister. What lies beneath the surface of this tranquil environment, is the balance between humanity and automation. Such equilibrium is a delicate enigma of the new ecology.

Director Statement:
By depicting a world where technology has both liberated and alienated individuals, this film reflects on the impact of technological advancement in an increasingly digitized world. Immersed in this hallucinogenic and enigmatic atmosphere, the future remains a divination for exploration as we contemplate the impact of automation and artificial intelligence of this new ecology and the evolving nature of humanity.