ShortFilmsMatter.com

Panacea

4/5
An experimental film about loneliness and the inner voice.

Synopsis

A frog observes a near empty world where it can hear it’s own thoughts clearly for the first time. Though some of these thoughts are confusingly human, and prove to be too much for the creature.

Review

Written and directed by Olyvia Joan, ‘Panacea’ is an experimental short film that taps into loneliness, solitude and fear – from the perspective of an isolated frog. Throughout the narrative, Olyvia Joan delivers a voice-over monologue as the frog – examining the frog’s emotional state of mind. Visually, the film is constructed with a montage of imagery of deserted urban life, where most of the population have mysteriously disappeared. A poignant tale that illustrates the importance of social connection and community for mental well-being.

Throughout the 4-minute film, the frog ponders over the unexpected serenity and quietude. The pleasure of harmony is quickly interrupted by the frog’s ambivalence – as trepidation, desolation and anxiety begins to overwhelm. The narrative is essentially about the conflicting deliberation of your inner voice, which is typically intensified in seclusion.

Olyvia Joan has crafted a neat production with a poetic underbelly. The partially animated film has symbolic cinematography throughout – aiding the overall theme perfectly. Joan’s artistic stoicism deserves high acclaim – showcased by the deserted urban landscapes. The musical soundtrack, composed by Owen Kenney, is equally commendable and flows nicely with the visuals. The animation of the protagonist (the frog) is finely mastered, albeit brief. The ambient sounds of nature are also recorded to a high spec. ‘Panacea’ is a decent short worth the 4-minute watch.

Cast/Crew

Director(s): Olyvia Joan
Writer(s): Olyvia Joan
Cast: Olyvia Joan
Producer(s):
Director of Photography: Olyvia Joan
Animation: Olyvia Joan

Specifications

Genre:
Collections: , ,
Country:
Language: English
Year: 2020
Runtime: 4 min

Recommended

Synopsis

A frog observes a near empty world where it can hear it’s own thoughts clearly for the first time. Though some of these thoughts are confusingly human, and prove to be too much for the creature.

Cast/Crew

Director(s): Olyvia Joan
Writer(s): Olyvia Joan
Cast: Olyvia Joan
Producer(s):
Director of Photography: Olyvia Joan
Animation: Olyvia Joan

Specifcations

Genre:
Collections: , ,
Country:
Language: English
Year: 2020
Runtime: 4 min

Recommended

Panacea

4/5

An experimental film about loneliness and the inner voice.

Panacea Short Film
Written and directed by Olyvia Joan, ‘Panacea’ is an experimental short film that taps into loneliness, solitude and fear – from the perspective of an isolated frog. Throughout the narrative, Olyvia Joan delivers a voice-over monologue as the frog – examining the frog’s emotional state of mind. Visually, the film is constructed with a montage of imagery of deserted urban life, where most of the population have mysteriously disappeared. A poignant tale that illustrates the importance of social connection and community for mental well-being.

Throughout the 4-minute film, the frog ponders over the unexpected serenity and quietude. The pleasure of harmony is quickly interrupted by the frog’s ambivalence – as trepidation, desolation and anxiety begins to overwhelm. The narrative is essentially about the conflicting deliberation of your inner voice, which is typically intensified in seclusion.

Olyvia Joan has crafted a neat production with a poetic underbelly. The partially animated film has symbolic cinematography throughout – aiding the overall theme perfectly. Joan’s artistic stoicism deserves high acclaim – showcased by the deserted urban landscapes. The musical soundtrack, composed by Owen Kenney, is equally commendable and flows nicely with the visuals. The animation of the protagonist (the frog) is finely mastered, albeit brief. The ambient sounds of nature are also recorded to a high spec. ‘Panacea’ is a decent short worth the 4-minute watch.

Recommended