The mysterious and visually stunning Trillion, a new black-and-white film from acclaimed director Victor Kossakovsky, has premiered at the International Documentary Film Festival Amsterdam (IDFA) 2025. Executive produced by Joaquin Phoenix, this cinematic masterpiece is the second entry in Kossakovsky’s celebrated “empathy trilogy”, which began with Gunda (2020).
The film opens with a haunting image: a woman walking barefoot across jagged rocks by the sea, her face obscured by a wide-brimmed hat and her white dress fluttering in the wind. Her silent, repetitive journey becomes a metaphorical experience — a “cinematic and wordless interpretation of the Myth of Sisyphus,” as described by the filmmaker.
A Wordless Journey with Profound Meaning
In Trillion, Kossakovsky invites viewers into an 80-minute wordless meditation that relies solely on visual storytelling and sound design. The film’s subtle interplay of light, shadow, and natural sound immerses audiences in a poetic exploration of existence, perseverance, and the human condition.
According to Kossakovsky, the project aims to provoke “deeply relevant questions about the meaning and purpose of life in a time when all sentient beings face existential threats.” The film challenges conventional documentary storytelling, replacing dialogue and narration with a visual language that speaks directly to emotion and empathy.
Joaquin Phoenix’s Continued Collaboration
Joaquin Phoenix, who also executive produced Gunda, once again lends his support to Kossakovsky’s vision in Trillion, alongside producers Susan Rockefeller, Frank Lehmann, Fridrik Mar, and Kaja Bjelke. Phoenix’s involvement reflects his ongoing passion for thought-provoking, empathy-driven cinema that explores humanity’s relationship with nature and existence.
The closing credits of Trillion even include special thanks to Danny Glover and Maya Rudolph, acknowledging their behind-the-scenes contributions to the film’s creation. The documentary’s international sales are being handled by Anonymous Content, with production partners Sant & Usant and Louverture Films.
A Mystery Revealed Only at the End
Throughout Trillion, the viewer is left to question the woman’s journey — where she’s going, and why she continues walking. Kossakovsky intentionally leaves these mysteries unresolved until the very final frame. “Only at the last second, you understand,” he explains. “In the last frame, you know why it’s called Trillion and what it is about.”
This slow and deliberate storytelling style is a hallmark of Kossakovsky’s filmmaking, where every image and movement holds purpose. The director believes audiences should “watch to the last frame,” trusting the film’s imagery to reveal meaning without words or explanations.
Kossakovsky’s Philosophy on Cinema
Known for his unconventional approach to documentary filmmaking, Kossakovsky emphasizes visual storytelling over dialogue. “I’m not using many words in my movies,” he says. “I’m trying to use the language of cinema. A picture alone can speak — our eyes are powerful enough to understand emotion and meaning without explanation.”
For him, Trillion is not just a film but an emotional journey — one that changes both the filmmaker and the audience. “I make films to become a different person,” he shares. “After each film, I cannot live the same way I lived before.”
The Empathy Trilogy Continues
Following the success of Gunda, which focused on the life of a pig and her piglets, Trillion deepens Kossakovsky’s exploration of empathy beyond the human perspective. The director confirms that a third film in the trilogy is already in development, though details remain secret. “I hope Joaquin Phoenix will be part of it as well,” he hints.
Phoenix’s collaboration began after he watched Gunda and was deeply moved. “Finally, someone made a film about pigs, not about humans,” the actor reportedly told Kossakovsky. That shared passion for nonverbal, emotional storytelling continues to shape their partnership.
A Call for Reflection and Change
Beyond its visual beauty, Trillion is a call to action — a cinematic reflection urging audiences to consider the world differently. The IDFA 2025 program describes it as “a journey of discovery that prompts reflection on the possibilities of realizing a different future.”
Through silence, imagery, and empathy, Victor Kossakovsky’s Trillion reminds us that cinema can still move us without a single spoken word — if only we are willing to truly watch, listen, and feel.
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