Ms Novak is everything that the parents of the children at school could want – a young, committed nutritionist and coach who will introduce their children to mindful eating. A wide variety of secondary school pupils at an elite private school apply for her class. If at first some students are sceptical when they learn that they have to chew one mouthful for the entire meal, but gradually, through trust and cult-like intimacy, they give up food altogether. Would you believe if a person could live on… nothing? Armed with hunger, they announce Club Zero.

A thriller born in the mind of the eater, as they stare at their plate. When Austrian director Jessica Hausner screened this social satire in the main competition of the Cannes Film Festival, she billed the film as an attempt at a critique of contemporary education, social networks and life coaches. The director’s signature style is the ability to distil acute social issues down to exasperated and unbelievable, but not impossible, situations in which the simple-minded man and those like him find themselves. As in Amour Fou (2014) and Little Joe (2019), so in her latest film, she creates a dystopian-like environment in which collective behaviour prevails over common sense. Meanwhile, at its centre is a charismatic priestess, played by actress Mia Wasikowska (Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland), who treats non-believers to a cup of bitter tea.

This film is screened as part of a cooperation with Lācis, lauva un zars.