AMOOSED: Losí odysea

Is there such a thing as a totem animal? Director Hana Nováková embarks on an unexpected journey that begins as an interest in the spontaneous return of extinct majestic forest giants, but gradually turns into a personal spiritual odyssey. In her documentary, she follows moose-obsessed "elk-obsessed" people all over the planet - from scientists to enthusiasts who have dedicated their lives to these formidable creatures. At the One World International Festival, the film won the main prize for Best Film in the Czech Competition. Her journey begins in the heart of Central Europe, where, through Czech zoologist Miloš Anděra, she discovers the story of the return of extinct moose to the former Czechoslovakia - animals that have become local legends. The journey continues into the remote forests of Russia to a unique domestication station focused on raising moose as farm animals. Here she meets laser physicist Alexander Minaev, a former ardent promoter of domestication who has dedicated the rest of his life to freeing moose. The journey continues to Sweden, where she visits a household in which a human family lives under the same roof as a moose. The climax of the odyssey is in remote Nova Scotia, Canada. Here, amidst the harsh natural beauty, the most surprising truth of the entire journey is revealed. After several years, she finally meets the first Native American nation, the Mi'qmaq. They consider moose to be sacred animals, spiritual totems connecting rational and irrational knowledge. Through matriarch Cheryl Maloney and narrator Clifford Paul, the director discovers that her fascination with moose was not accidental. She receives important messages about animals, nature, and our place in the world. This message is intended not only for her, but for the entire contemporary world standing on the brink of ecological crisis. The film, from a seemingly light topic about animal enthusiasts, grows into a deep reflection on our relationship with nature and the spiritual roots that connect us to it.