Jacqueline Zünd’s ‘Heat’ Explores Human Resilience Amidst Climate Crisis at Visions du Réel 2026
Swiss documentary filmmaker Jacqueline Zünd is set to unveil her latest work, Heat, at the 57th edition of the Visions du Réel documentary festival in Nyon, Switzerland, on April 20, 2026. This film follows her fiction feature debut, Don’t Let the Sun, which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival in 2025. Both films delve into the profound impacts of climate change on human experiences and societal structures.
A Cinematic Exploration of Climate Change
Heat presents a near-future perspective on how climate change shapes individual lives and societal dynamics. The film is set in the Persian Gulf, recognized as one of the hottest regions globally, where temperatures can exceed 50 degrees Celsius (120 degrees Fahrenheit). Zünd aims to illustrate how extreme heat influences character, economic conditions, and social inequalities. The documentary seeks to peel back layers of the climate crisis, revealing the underlying human experiences affected by these external factors.
Produced by Louis Mataré of Lomotion AG in collaboration with Real Film GmbH, Heat features cinematography by Nikolai von Graevenitz and editing by Gion-Reto Killias. The film employs highly stylized imagery and sound to immerse viewers in the intensity of its subject matter.
Characters and Narratives
The documentary introduces viewers to individuals like Sophy, a young Kenyan employed in an ice bar catering to wealthy patrons in Dubai, and Essa, a meteorologist in Kuwait grappling with the challenge of alerting the public to climate realities. These narratives highlight the stark contrasts in experiences between the privileged and those struggling with the harsh realities of climate change.
Zünd expresses her intent to visually translate the concept of heat without resorting to clichéd imagery. She describes her vision as a cinematic mirage, questioning the reality of what is depicted on screen. This approach aims to evoke a sensory experience that resonates deeply with the audience.
Thematic Depth and Societal Relevance
Mataré commends Zünd’s ability to intertwine societal relevance with striking aesthetics. He notes that the film’s protagonists bring emotional depth to themes of social inequality, showcased through visually compelling contrasts. Heat incorporates narrative techniques from Zünd’s earlier works, such as structuring stories around a single day and utilizing inner voices to enhance the storytelling.
The film’s trailer has been released, promising an intense exploration of its themes. Zünd emphasizes that Heat is not merely a documentary; it is a sensory experience designed to provoke thought and reflection on the realities of climate change.
Insights from the Filmmaker
Zünd views Heat and Don’t Let the Sun as companion pieces, each enriching the other. Early in the development of her fiction film, the idea emerged to create a documentary addressing similar themes. This dual exploration allowed her to incorporate fascinating insights from her research into both films, revealing connections between fiction and reality.
The filmmaker notes that Heat serves as a magnifying glass, intensifying character traits and emotions while highlighting economic and social disparities. The film starkly contrasts the lives of the wealthy, who retreat to air-conditioned environments, with those of migrant workers who endure the extreme heat while working outdoors. Many migrant workers in the Arabian Gulf face severe health risks, including heatstroke, a topic often overlooked in public discourse.
A Sensory Experience
Zünd’s approach to Heat diverges from traditional documentary styles that rely on expert interviews and data charts. Instead, she focuses on creating a visceral experience that captures the essence of heat as a state of being. Her previous work on insomnia in Goodnight Nobody informs her desire to make abstract conditions tangible and experienceable.
By translating heat into a cinematic experience, Zünd aims to evoke feelings of vertigo, loss of control, and distorted perception, making the heat itself a character in the narrative.
Future Endeavors
While Zünd has explored climate-related themes in her recent films, she indicates a desire to shift focus to other topics in her future projects. She acknowledges the need for a break after her intensive exploration of climate issues, signaling her intent to delve into new narratives awaiting her attention.
As reported by www.hollywoodreporter.com.
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Published on 2026-04-17 10:00:00 • By FAME Delivered News Desk