Катедралата

The Cathedral (Polish: Katedra) is the title of a science fiction short story by Jacek Dukaj, winner of the Janusz A. Zajdel Award in 2000; and of a 2002 short animated movie by Tomasz Bagiński

The Cathedral is high on impact, less so on plot. Enigmatically posed against the backdrop of a planet in eclipse a hooded pilgrim approaches and enters a cathedral. It is a vast cave with a vaulted ceiling that might be formed from giant trees, the roots of which surge from the rock in an organic complex. Gargoyles, or rather petrified figures, look down on him and a tilt of the head or turn of the eyes signifies their sentience. Any progress of the pilgrim is blocked by an impenetrable abyss. The opening to the film features a planet surface comprising scarcely cooled lava and there is a significance as the eclipse ends and light enters the predominantly orange interior of the cave leading to a suitably dramatic conclusion as the pilgrim is reintegrated into his world. When I first viewed the movie

For seven or so minutes and we have been cast into another world. And the concluding scenes are absolutely stunning.