Iris

Michael J. Keplinger

Michael J. Keplinger, born in Linz in 1999, is an aspiring film director and composer with a keen interest in the interweaving of different creative threads, especially the interplay of music and film. He believes in the pluralism of culture, art and media and that the creative process becomes particularly intriguing when different and complex currents of thought converge.

Director Statement

Early in the film, there’s a scene where the mute and deaf character, Iris, communicates with her boyfriend using sign language. There are no subtitles, which creates a sense of detachment. However, it quickly becomes evident that the conversation’s meaning is still understandable through context and simple gestures. Through the same means, this initial detachment is deconstructed, giving way to a strong sense of empathy. The audience realizes that even the defining feature that sets them apart from Iris doesn’t actually make any difference.
As is fitting for a good thriller, a sense of dread is certainly desired. Nonetheless, Iris’s deafness isn’t used to pigeonhole her into a victim role – she remains a fully autonomous individual.
This film is close to my heart for various reasons. It demonstrates that a character’s handicap is not a handicap to the story. Iris’s disability is not her sole defining characteristic; she portrays the same range of emotions, and one can build just as much empathy with her as with anyone else. At the same time, her disability is by no means trivial in the film; it is an essential tool for the narrative and character development.