VENA

The Story

Jenny loves her boyfriend Bolle, with whom she is expecting a child. For others, this would mean the greatest happiness. However, for Jenny, it evokes ambivalent feelings. Life has put her through a lot before. In the past, she clashed with the justice system and the youth welfare office. Moreover, her relationship with Bolle is increasingly strained. This is mainly due to their shared struggle with drug addiction.

When they are assigned a family midwife, Marla, Jenny initially reacts with rejection. Surprisingly, Marla doesn’t judge her. Instead, she sees Jenny for who she truly is at her core. Because of this, Jenny starts to trust Marla. Gradually, she gathers the courage to face her fears. Eventually, she decides to take responsibility – for the new life growing inside her, but most importantly, for herself.

The Music

Working on VENA was both a unique and challenging journey for me as a composer. Since it was my first feature film, the opportunity to shape the musical landscape of such an emotionally charged story felt both exciting and daunting.

VENA tells the story of Jenny, a young woman caught between the hope of new life and the shadows of her troubled past. She navigates a complex relationship with her boyfriend Bolle while facing the reality of impending motherhood. Therefore, the music needed to reflect her inner turmoil. However, it was crucial to avoid overwhelming the film’s documentary-like authenticity.

One of the biggest challenges involved finding the right musical motifs. Since VENA has a raw, almost documentary feel, the music had to be minimal, carefully placed, and emotionally resonant. To achieve this, I chose a synthetic, atmospheric sound palette. This choice intentionally contrasts with the film’s harsh techno soundtrack, emphasizing Jenny’s vulnerability and the fragile hope she slowly allows herself to feel.

Creating music for VENA was a deeply rewarding experience. The sparse, flowing textures aimed to capture the emotional undertones. Yet, they never overpower the powerful performances and the gritty realism on screen. Ultimately, it was an incredible opportunity to explore how sound and silence can coexist, enhancing the film’s impact without overshadowing its raw, authentic storytelling.

Through this project, I learned a lot about subtlety and restraint in scoring. Looking back, I am proud to have contributed to a film that tackles such a profound and complex story.