Fragile Hole
A mixed-reality project in which the viewer’s living room transforms before their eyes, becoming part of someone else’s story. This Czech-Ukrainian co-production by director Ondřej Moravec and creator Victoria Lopukhina merges physical space with a digital layer so that technology is not an attraction, but a narrative language. The project had its world premiere at the Venice Film Festival in the curated section Venice Immersive.
Challenge
How can we convey the experience of war to an audience that no longer wants to hear more news? How can we connect physical space with the digital world so that the viewer is not merely an observer, but becomes part of the situation? And how can we use mixed reality so that it is not just a technological attraction, but a vehicle for meaning?
Solution
We will use mixed reality (MR) - a combination of the physical environment captured by a headset and digital 3D elements.The viewer will sit in a real living room. The room will gradually transform, and the peaceful home will become a place of tension. The digital layer intertwines with reality - the table, which was empty a moment ago, comes to life with Ukrainian motifs; the voice tracks of the Ukrainian protagonists weave personal testimonies into a musical composition
Technology as a Medium
Mixed reality is a narrative language. The physical living room, which the viewer actually inhabits, gradually transforms through the headset - digital objects interweave with the real space and disrupt its stability. It is precisely this blending of real and virtual elements that allows one to truly experience someone else’s story.
The project is a collaboration between Czech director Ondřej Moravec and Ukrainian filmmaker Victoria Lopukhina.
In addition to Brainz Studios, the production was supported by the Czech Film Fund and a partnership with IKEA for festival installations.
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Result
The project had its world premiere at one of the world’s most prestigious film festivals, where it was selected for the curated Venice Immersive section. The presentation also included a physical installation on the festival grounds, allowing viewers to immerse themselves in the experience within a fully realized scenographic context.
Fragile Home represents another step forward, demonstrating the potential of powerful storytelling combined with immersive technologies. The project also builds upon our previous VR projects, both thematically and in terms of authorship. These include Tmání, which premiered in Venice in 2022 and was nominated for a Czech Lion, and Fresh Memories: The Look, presented at the South by Southwest festival.
Director
Ondřej Moravec
Producer
Robin Pultera
Production
Martin Gregor
