Aloys

Set in contemporary urban life, the story uses modern devices like a video camera, phones, and texting to drive the plot. The 'telephone hikes' hinge on shared imagined locales, blending memory and fantasy with real locations. The modern backdrop intensifies the tension between surveillance and genuine human contact.

Locations in the film span Aloys's cramped apartment building, the city bus he rides, and a remote wooded area imagined during a call. Vera's workplace at the zoo and her hospital stay also appear, along with Aloys's favorite restaurant where their imagined dinners occur. These settings anchor the film's exploration of surveillance, distance, and the fragile possibility of real connection.

🔍 Surveillance

The film centers on watching others and the power dynamics of footage, from Aloys's distant recordings to the anonymous tapes that drive the plot. When the tapes are stolen, surveillance becomes a weapon that intrudes on private lives. The pursuit reveals how seeing can shape identity and control, often at the expense of empathy.

🧍 Isolation

Aloys's emotional distance from everyone around him defines his life. His reluctance to engage with neighbors, including Vera, isolates him even as he searches for meaning. Personal crisis and grief intensify his withdrawal, creating a barrier to genuine connection.

🌐 Connection

The 'telephone hikes' begin as a game but gradually become a lifeline that nudges Aloys toward real contact. As he waters Vera's flowers and finally enters her hospital world, imagined and real spaces converge. The film ends with a fragile step toward vulnerability and shared experience.