FIPADOC 2025: A Tree Grows in My Dreams Every Night (dir. Vid Hajnšek) | Review

For the 7th edition of FIPADOC, Slovenian director Vid Hajnšek unveils his first feature film, A Tree Grows in My Dreams Every Night. In the hilly wine-growing region of Haloze, a photographer captures the changing times, old folk singers and young musicians. Through daily life, stories and memories, he paints a portrait of people deeply rooted in the landscape they inhibit.

In its last screening before the FIPADOC closing ceremony, the Slovenian film received a mixed reception from the audience. Indeed, many left the room in the middle of the screening. At the end of the film, a moment’s hesitation in the audience was followed by timid applause.  

And yet, the film is a genuine visual slap in the face, a meditative one if we dare use the oxymoron.

As the film opens, enveloped in a contemplative atmosphere, the audience observes the meticulous work of photographer Stojan Kerbler developing his shots. This immersive environment accompanies us throughout the documentary.

Loaded with romanticism, the documentary conveys a latent sense of loneliness. Although there are few scenes of conviviality, the solitude that emerges is poetic, not heavy. It’s the solitude of the exaltation of feelings.

However, the scenes of observation are counterbalanced by moments of sharing that are aesthetically beautiful and full of humanity. Indeed, the director brings the region’s inhabitants face-to-face with the camera. Photograph in hand, three locals recount a memory from their childhood. The film also highlights the link between yesterday’s culture and today’s: on one side, old ladies singing in chorus on a bus, on the other, young folk singers. All bear witness to the passage of time.

Moreover, whether present or deliberately absent, the film’s soundtrack fills the images with an atmosphere that sublimates the lyricism of the work.

The film is interspersed with photographs, captures of times gone by. Through photographs taken by photographer Stojan Kerbler decades ago, depicting the village and its inhabitants, the film paints a portrait of a place through stories, images, poetry, and pure cinematic beauty.

The sincerity and deep attachment of the director and actors to this region make the film a poetic and grandiose work. The cinematography is beautifully crafted, immersing the viewer in a vivid picture. In a dreamlike atmosphere, the viewer is invited to meditate.

Throughout the film, we are immersed in a poetic reality. This was the director’s objective from the very beginning of the project, as he confides: « It all began with reading my grandfather’s poetry after a very long time […] Concurrently with reading, I discovered the photographic work of Stojan Kerbler. His photographs, underscored by my grandfather’s verses in my mind, deeply affected me ».

This film, which may seem difficult to access because of its slowness, deserves to be encouraged. It may not be easy to describe in a few words how A Tree Grows in My Dreams Every Night is brought to life, but let’s be sure: seeing it transcends the simple act of viewing. It’s an experience in its own right, to be lived like a dream.