Overpressure

Ada and her teammates are about to compete in a volunteer firefighting race. They are the only women’s team, surrounded by men who are not entirely convinced they belong there. Seconds before the start, overwhelmed by visions of everything that could go wrong, Ada’s inner self escapes. She enters a surreal world where fire hoses, pumps and other pieces of firefighting equipment transform into physical manifestations of her teammates’ hidden fears and insecurities. As Ada listens to their stories and helps them find a way forward, the firefighting system gradually comes together. To return to reality, she must eventually confront her own fear of failure and find the courage to finish what she started. OVERPRESSURE is an animated short about self-doubt, female solidarity and the relief that comes from discovering that our fears are rarely ours alone.

Director’s statement
OVERPRESSURE grew directly out of my own experience. A few years ago, while taking my children to the volunteer fire brigade in our village near Zlín, I became friends with several other mothers. Instead of simply watching, we formed our own women’s firefighting team. What started as a sporting challenge gradually became a space for sharing our insecurities, fears and everyday struggles. Through Ada’s escape into an imaginary world, I want to explore the pressure we put on ourselves, the fear of failure, and the strength that can come from listening to others. For me, OVERPRESSURE is ultimately about finding the courage to act despite self-doubt and realizing that the fears we try to hide are often shared by those around us.