This Will Not Be a Festival Film – an 8-minute long animation by Julia Orlik showing the author’s personal story, full of irony and self-analysis. The film is not only an artistic experiment but also a bold take on challenges and pressures in relation to the creative process, says Bartłomej Olechowski from LFF Media Group about Monday’s screening of the short film.
Julia, a film school student, faces a challenge of creating her graduation film. She comes up with an untypical project – a film about her and her family, built around family heirlooms. At first, it may sound like a great idea but during the production, Julia discovers that the concept overwhelms her. She spirals into a creative chaos and the film itself turns into a work about…problems with producing a work.
The film shows Julia’s struggles with her own ambition and perfectionism. She feels the pressure to create something great, just like with her previous animations awarded at festivals. This pressure consumes her to such an extent that she is slowly becoming more and more separated from her family – the subject, which was meant to be the core of her graduation film. Paradoxically, the project which was supposed to bring her closer to her brother and parents, becomes the reason for her frustration and loneliness.
Julia realises that her attitude is wrong. The film, which was supposed to be about family, has been produced without her loved ones. When she finally invites them to collaborate on the project, it gains a new meaning.
While producing her animation, Julia asks her friends for opinions. Their reactions dampen her enthusiasm: poor, boring, you’ve burnt out. These are not the responses she has anticipated. How does she react? She makes a list and crosses out the names to the rhythm of distinctive music. This is a perfect reference to an iconic scene from Death Note, where Light Yagami writes down the last names in the titular notebook. I love this humorous comment on the need for recognition and creative frustration – because who would not want to separate themselves from all the critique of what we believe is our greatest, perfect piece?
This Will Not Be a Festival Film is a story about the need for acceptance – acceptance sought among the loved ones as well as in oneself. It is a reflection about how creative passion may become not only the source of happiness but also sorrow if we set the bar too high.
Julia Orlik created an animation which is not only moving but also thought-provoking – it encourages the audience to reflect on what is truly important in the creative process – perfection or honesty? This is a question which every artist should ask themselves.
Additionally, the author reminds all the students not to put off working on their graduation works, especially if the defense date has already been fixed by the dean’s office.
Bartłomiej Olechowski
Translation: Agnieszka Tchórzewska, Applied Linguistics, UMCS