Hangman & CO.

“Hangman & Co.” is a black-and-white short film about a painter who finds himself caught in a surreal encounter with his past. On the first day of his retirement, he carefully folds his stained and worn work suit, garments he once wore with pride. As he contemplates his new life as a free man, he slips into a dreamlike confrontation with his former self. A poetic reflection on the shifting chapters of life, and the identities we
live and redefine.

This installation presents the original set and costumes from Hangman & Co., designed by Matti Paffen. The structures are light weight and could be easily rearranged during filming, allowing the space to shift like a stage between acts. Working with Hedzer and Birsu who have their background in theatre, the design has an almost comical simplicity. Playful, yet deliberate. On screen, this theatricality continues: the illusion is broken on purpose, exposing the edges of the studio and reminding the viewer that everything we see is constructed.