The temperature is rising on social media, and it has nothing to do with the weather forecast. Film lovers and climate activists are currently buzzing over the exclusive trailer premiere of ‘Heat’, a stunning new documentary from Swiss filmmaker Jacqueline Zünd.
Known for her ability to capture the “unbearable” parts of the human experience, Zünd is taking viewers to the Persian Gulf, where temperatures routinely soar past degrees Celsius ( degrees Fahrenheit). The film is already being called a “sensory explosion,” and it is set to make its world premiere at the th Visions du Reel festival in Switzerland on April .
A Viral Cinematic Mirage
This is not your typical sit-down documentary with dry charts and talking heads. Instead, ‘Heat’ is a highly stylized, atmospheric journey that Zünd describes as a “cinematic Fata Morgana” or mirage.
“I want to translate heat visually without illustrating it, without falling for clichéd images,” Zünd shared. “The film captures the vertigo, the loss of control, and the distortion of perception.”
The aesthetic has already caught the eye of fans on X and Instagram, where stills from the film—showing tiny black figures against vast, shimmering desert landscapes—are being shared as “hauntingly beautiful.” Produced by Louis Mataré, the film uses intense soundscapes and imagery to make the audience feel the physical weight of the sun.
The Social Media Divide
While the visuals are trending for their beauty, the film’s message is sparking a deeper, more emotional debate online. ‘Heat’ highlights the startling gap between the rich and the poor in extreme climates.
One of the most talked-about moments in the trailer features Sophy, a young Kenyan woman who works in an ice bar in Dubai. She provides a “chilly coldness” for wealthy patrons while the world outside burns. On the other side of the spectrum, we meet Essa, a meteorologist in Kuwait desperately trying to sound the alarm on a reality that most people want to ignore.
“Once the temperature reaches a certain point, those who can afford it no longer leave their homes,” Zünd explained. “They live exclusively in air-conditioned environments… It is primarily migrants—who are forced to work outdoors—who suffer from the heat.”
A “Companion Piece” to Fiction
The buzz surrounding ‘Heat’ is amplified by the fact that it serves as a “documentary sibling” to Zünd’s fiction debut, ‘Don’t Let the Sun’, which premiered at the Locarno Film Festival last year.
Zünd revealed that while researching her fiction film, she found real-life stories that were too powerful to leave on the cutting room floor. “Both films explore the impact of temperatures on the inner lives and relationships of people,” she noted.
Fans of the filmmaker’s earlier work, like ‘Goodnight Nobody’, are praising her for once again making a physical condition feel “tangible and experienceable” on screen. However, if you are expecting a trilogy of climate films, don’t hold your breath. Zünd admitted that after diving into such intense subject matter, she is ready for a change.
“No, I need a break now,” she told reporters. “I have other topics waiting for me to explore!”
As the countdown to the Visions du Reel premiere begins, ‘Heat’ remains a hot topic for anyone interested in the intersection of art, social justice, and the planet’s future. It is a reminder that while some can hide from the sun in luxury malls, others are left to face the fire.
