Ľubomír Tamaškovič

Like the steam that silently appears and then disappears over a flowing river, the life of every human is just as fleeting, and this particularly applies in the case of artists. The transience of their fame is the main topic of this documentary, which provides a glimpse into the lives of three ageing jazzmen: trumpeter Laco Deczi, saxophonist Ľubomír Tamaškovič, and contrabass player Ján Jankeje, who fled from the Soviet-occupied Czechoslovakia to the West, where their stars shone alongside those of the world’s famous musicians.

Set in Bratislava, university friends Turo and Andrey are paralyzed by existential dread under the shadow of the Cold War and the threat of nuclear war. Rejecting long-term goals, Turo is an astronomy student that adopts a hedonistic lifestyle, while Andrey channels his anxiety into a sculpture for Hiroshima. This shared trauma ultimately tests their friendship and undermines their relationships.