HAIKU- WHEN POETRY IS GEOMETRY BY MARTIN GERIGK
Directed by Martin Gerigk/ Reviewed by Biplab Das
Haiku is a film that focuses on the interaction point where poetry, mathematics, nature, art, people, animals, and human emotion meet. Suited for those who want to see something different from the conventional ones, Haiku is an experimental short. If you prefer seeing a film which will energize your intellect then Haiku is one for you. This as an experimental and avant-garde film made for a particular group of people. As an audience, if you want to get the real taste of the short, you need to watch it multiple times. To be honest, you need to be fearless in dealing with this film. The topics dealt in this short are unusual but worth watching them. The best part comes when you able to connect the dots, you get the real flavor of the film. However, one thing I would like to mention here is that you need to be aware of what Haiku is.
Director Martin Gerigk has done a humongous thing by taking this project and ending the entire film within 18 minutes. It is his tribute to the art of Haiku poetry. 
The way he used video and audio is really commendable. The usage of the image shows his talent over the medium. His approach towards the film proves that he is not a rookie in this film. In the case of actors and actresses, Martin selected only two- Eri Uchino and Cauro Hige. Martin only used their faces and voices to narrate what the film is all about. The sound plays an important role in the short. The use of percussion is really interesting. Percussionist Tobias Liebezeit was instrumental (not a pun). Along with Tobias, Philipp Zdebel, and Stephen Sixt- the audio recorder and ambient recorder created a unique soundscape.
When you watch the short for the first time, you will not find any plot or story as such but after the second or third viewing, you’ll get to find the commonality and able to connect the dots. Director Martin Gerigk connected nature with geometry, people with signs, animals and insects with human emotion to say that all these connections can be linked to Haiku poetry. The voiceovers of the actors give the short an extra-edge. 
The voiceovers come with English subtitles making the short easily understandable for the uninitiated. The film has used geometric signs to define nature. Nature means doesn’t only trees and waters but with a wide range of things. The interesting part lies in the discovery of such links and connections. The singularity in telling that everything can be connected to Haiku poetry makes the film distinct. The color of the film is quite bold and strong. Director didn’t use many colors but the colors he has chosen give the film a unique look. The objects used in the film to create an artistic look are pretty commendable. At the end of the film, the director mentioned the name of the Haiku poets whose poems are used in the film. It also shows the tradition of the Haiku poem.
As a reviewer, I am giving 4 stars out of 5. The reason I’m doing this is that the short nourishes your intellectual core. The moment you understand the links, you crave to see more connections. 
If you don’t enjoy films but are interested in mathematics then you will also enjoy the short. Also, if you love nature then this short will attract you. The simplicity in nature is portrayed through art. The use of typography and calligraphy shows the long heritage of Japanese tradition. So if you’re a student of design then you’ll enjoy this short. To cut short, if you are looking for a film that is unconventional and yet interesting then Haiku is the best option to choose.
