When Øyvind Aamot—also known as “Wind”—wakes up one day on a train snaking its way across China, he does not remember how he came to be traveling in a country halfway around the world, let alone his own name or age. All he knows is that he feels very much at home in China and can converse fluently with locals, even though his features clearly betray his foreigner status. As one of the doctors describes his condition, it is as though Wind’s “hard drive” has been completely wiped blank. Gone are the most basic sets of knowledge and skills he would have picked up through socialization and formal education. For instance, Wind doesn’t necessarily recognize the train—on which he woke up with his first set of memories—as a mode of transportation, but only as a set of recurring motions that carries him along. Meanwhile, his friends and family in Norway don’t have the slightest clue as to Wind’s whereabouts, having received no communication from him for weeks. When he finally does reconnect with his friends and family they are taken aback by his childlike innocence. The blank slate that is his mind works to Wind’s advantage as he continues his world travel. He has no preconceptions or prejudice, and is therefore open to all types of education, including learning multiple foreign languages and picking up social skills by observing others. As Wind tries to retrace his steps through China and find out what caused his amnesia, the audience is treated to a fascinating exploration of the meanings of culture, nationality and personal identity.

Filmmaker Q&A

Introduce yourself:
Thomas Lien, 37 years, Norwegian, director of HUNTING DOWN MEMORY, has been working with film since 1992, including production, camerawork, editing and direction both on fiction and docs. He won 1st prize in the Venice Film Festival with his short fiction DEPTH SOLITUDE, which also screened in Sundance. His last film was TIKOPIA, a documentary about a traditional Polynesian island that survived the worst cyclone ever. I have also been the captain on a six-year-long circumnavigation.

What inspired this film?   How did you find your subjects?
The fact that a good friend suddenly did not remember me or anything else from the first 27 years of his life. We sailed together for six months in the Pacific, on our way to China. He left the boat there and some time after he suffered from amnesia.   

What were some of the biggest challenges/surprises?
Finding the money and then getting it... Apart from that it was a big challenge to travel for two months shooting in China with just the subject, the DPO and myself. It was hard work but with no major problems, and only good people on the way.  

Who are some of your favorite filmmakers?
Danny Boyle, Peter Greenaway, Wong Kar-Wai  

What is your all time favorite documentary?
KOYAANISQATSI/POWAQQATSI  

What other projects are in the pipeline?
Working on a few ideas...  

Why did you become a filmmaker?
To make films that people care about.  

What are some of your creative influences?
People, good stories, my circumnavigation and KOYAANISQATSI/POWAQQATSI.

Did you go to film school?
No.  

What do you shoot on?
Panasonic HVX200.  

What has been the most unexpected thing to happen since taking the film on the festival circuit?
Being invited to both HotDocs and SILVERDOCS!  

Why did you want to screen your film at SILVERDOCS?
I have heard this is a wonderful festival, and I hope many folks want to see my film...