“I’m not work anymore”, by Gernas İslam Abışka (2025)

I’m not work anymore (2025) is a work that combines visual art with a mysterious narrative to envelop the viewer and place them before a powerful image of the human being in their smallness against the vastness of nature and the unpredictability of events. This approach inevitably recalls Romantic painting and its exploration of the relationship between the individual and the immense, the sublime, and the ungraspable dimensions of existence.

The short film follows its protagonist, Seyfo, as he tends the sheep of his community, until an unexpected accusation leads him to observe one of them closely. What he witnesses that day forces him to confront the direction of his own life and draws the viewer into an intimate journey that addresses themes such as trust and the people in whom we place it, destiny, everyday routine, expectations surrounding gender roles, and our relationship with others, with life, and with the environment we inhabit.

There are multiple perspectives from which a cinematic critique of this work could be approached. In this case, it is particularly relevant to highlight the photographic achievement of its director, Gernas İslam Abışka. The film’s visual composition conveys with great sensitivity the everyday experience of its characters, capturing their questions, resignation, indignation, boredom, and the moments of emotion that shape their lives.

In his statement, the director draws a parallel with a scene associated with Vincent van Gogh, in which a figure wearing a straw hat goes out to his field and shot himself in the head. From this reference, Abışka reflects that “This story, for an unknown reason, shows that in our story, not only bodies die, but also thoughts and ideas must die when necessary, and it is necessary to live in a world pregnant with new beginnings.” This comparison is particularly fitting and reinforces the spirit of a work that invites reflection and renewal. We encourage audiences to discover the work of this filmmaker, especially those who appreciate unusual cinema, marked by questions that foster thoughtful conversations and sustained by an extraordinary beauty in its visual composition.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gernasfilm

Specifications

Title: I’m not work anymore

Director: Gernas İslam Abışka

Country: Turkey

Year of Production: 2025

Running Time: 23:52 min

Ecos Shorts Festival

2026