Empathy
When your world begins to fall apart... will you still be able to listen?
Producer & Director:
Irina Cheremisova
Irina Cheremisova
Director of Photography:
Petr Kosikhin
Petr Kosikhin
Movie
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Synopsis
Six people gather in Alex's apartment. They are friends, but each speaks a different language and carries a distinct culture, a personal pain. French, Catalan, Ukrainian, Georgian, Latvian, and Russian — the dialogue falls apart, but the essence remains. No one translates anything, yet somehow it becomes clear: sincerity sounds the same in every language.
What happens when we speak to one another? Are we waiting for an answer, or are we just hoping to finally be heard?
Empathy is not about dialogue but presence. It's a confessional film in which monologues merge into a single polyphonic voice. It is a story about how deeply we need each other, not even to understand, but simply to be there. To keep one another from disappearing when the world begins to shatter.
What happens when we speak to one another? Are we waiting for an answer, or are we just hoping to finally be heard?
Empathy is not about dialogue but presence. It's a confessional film in which monologues merge into a single polyphonic voice. It is a story about how deeply we need each other, not even to understand, but simply to be there. To keep one another from disappearing when the world begins to shatter.
The "Empathy" Team
Irina Cheremisova
Author
Director
Producer
Author
Director
Producer
Petr Kosikhin
Director of Photography
Lighting
Editor
Director of Photography
Lighting
Editor
Aleksey Trunov
Art Department
Art Department
Filips Bolsakovs
Assistant Producer
Set Assistant
Post-Production Assistant
Assistant Producer
Set Assistant
Post-Production Assistant
Sofija Obulevica
Art Department
Art Department
Evgeniya Pronyakina
Post-Production Producer
Post-Production Producer
Cast
Roma
Roman Derkach
Roman Derkach
Tornike
Tornike Kusiani
Tornike Kusiani
Lyosha
Aleksey Trunov
Aleksey Trunov
Elina
Elina Cerla
Elina Cerla
Tinder boy
Filips Bolsakovs
Filips Bolsakovs
Marina
Marina Klamane
Marina Klamane
Waitress
Sofija Obulevica
Sofija Obulevica
Paula
Paula Planas Melgar
Paula Planas Melgar
Director’s statement
The movie idea came from a simple, yet unsettling observation: we speak more and hear each other less. Conversations turn into noise, while silence gets frightening. I keep noticing how we are losing the ability to be fully present, especially in a world where everyone speaks their language: not just meaning the words, but their tone, rhythm, and even fears.
I wanted to explore what happens when people from different linguistic and cultural realities try to be honest, even just for one evening. What does it mean to speak, knowing that you might not be understood but still might be heard?
Empathy is not a story in a traditional sense — it is a gathering of voices. A space where one can talk and be understood, even while speaking another language. I did not seek to explain — I wanted to show that emotions did not need translation if we are close enough. I got inspiration from my friends — all very different, with different wounds and traumas. Their inner monologues, their courage to speak, and their ability to remain silent while still feeling the same became the foundation of this movie.
I wanted to create a movie where the emotional truth matters more than narrative arcs, with other people's vivid presence instead of a conclusion. A movie to maybe help the viewers begin to hear themselves. I believe empathy is not knowledge. It is a state of being. It's not a line, but a look. I wanted to create a movie that stays not in the mind but in the body, even after the credits roll.
I wanted to explore what happens when people from different linguistic and cultural realities try to be honest, even just for one evening. What does it mean to speak, knowing that you might not be understood but still might be heard?
Empathy is not a story in a traditional sense — it is a gathering of voices. A space where one can talk and be understood, even while speaking another language. I did not seek to explain — I wanted to show that emotions did not need translation if we are close enough. I got inspiration from my friends — all very different, with different wounds and traumas. Their inner monologues, their courage to speak, and their ability to remain silent while still feeling the same became the foundation of this movie.
I wanted to create a movie where the emotional truth matters more than narrative arcs, with other people's vivid presence instead of a conclusion. A movie to maybe help the viewers begin to hear themselves. I believe empathy is not knowledge. It is a state of being. It's not a line, but a look. I wanted to create a movie that stays not in the mind but in the body, even after the credits roll.
Director’s Bio
Irina Cheremisova is a curator, art manager, and cultural entrepreneur. She was born in Ufa (USSR) in 1987 and holds degrees in Journalism (MNEPU) and Law (RGTEU).
After completing her studies, Irina founded the Art Business Club, a space for dialogue between artists, curators, and entrepreneurs. The Club became a platform for experience exchange, educational programs, and support for cultural initiatives. As part of the Club activities, she also launched Art Business Fest, a festival dedicated to the intersection of contemporary art and the business world.
In Moscow, Irina opened the art space "Golovu s plech" ("Off With the Head"), where she organized performances, shows, and evening events, bringing together the creative community in a hybrid format that combined a bar and cultural venue.
In 2022, she relocated to Barcelona and founded Dom Art Residence — an independent artist residency focused on international exchange, interdisciplinary practices, and collective artistic processes. Within this project, Irina curates event programs, performative formats, and collaborative projects with artists, cultivating a cultural ecosystem at the intersection of local and global.
After completing her studies, Irina founded the Art Business Club, a space for dialogue between artists, curators, and entrepreneurs. The Club became a platform for experience exchange, educational programs, and support for cultural initiatives. As part of the Club activities, she also launched Art Business Fest, a festival dedicated to the intersection of contemporary art and the business world.
In Moscow, Irina opened the art space "Golovu s plech" ("Off With the Head"), where she organized performances, shows, and evening events, bringing together the creative community in a hybrid format that combined a bar and cultural venue.
In 2022, she relocated to Barcelona and founded Dom Art Residence — an independent artist residency focused on international exchange, interdisciplinary practices, and collective artistic processes. Within this project, Irina curates event programs, performative formats, and collaborative projects with artists, cultivating a cultural ecosystem at the intersection of local and global.