This film is about a woman’s conflicting identities and negotiating her way through these to come to terms with both in a balanced union. In one she is bound in her role that is prescribed for her and struggles to free herself. In the other, she is content in her role, accepting it and identifying her femininity with it. Whether accepting or rejecting, these roles are defined for her by culture and society. Isolated from the culture, what would be her true identity? This is one aspect of identity represented in the film.
The two split sides of her personality come together and merge into one. She sheds both and goes out in the world to find her true identity. The split within a person can refer to many aspects of a personality. It could be representative of a struggle to balance her conflicting desires or aspirations, her shadow and ego, the spiritual and mental dimensions of her personality, her place in the two cultures of the East and West.
As the two conflicting sides of her personality find their way to light, they come together in harmony. She reaches an understanding and awareness of herself as she assimilates all the traits in a balance within herself. This symbolizes a form of rebirth or reaching a new level of awareness and growth.
Resolving the conflicts within herself, shedding the roles prescribed from outside, reaching a new level of self awareness that is not defined by cultural identity but a person’s authentic identity, she moves forward emerging from darkness into light, like a person reborn.
Life’s most destructive and challenging experiences that one has to navigate, also forces one to confront the struggles and reach a higher level of awareness. The setting of the woods with ruptured, fallen trees and destruction in nature concurrent with growth makes it an apt setting for the film. Woods and nature also makes it a neutral setting not defined by any culture or society. It also refers to true identity being found in connecting with one’s true nature or the force that runs through all life forms. Trees also reference growth, strength, and awareness. Fallen trees represent the many downfalls or metaphorical deaths through which one rises each time and continues on the journey.
The film therefore represents a woman’s psychological struggle to achieve balance through many trials she faces in life in the process of self-actualization.
Write a brief narrative to give the setting and background of your potential film
- Use clear and simple language. Keep it to a few sentences, giving the reader a feel for the film without details.
The film is set in the woods with fallen trees and branches scattered in parts of the woods. It starts at dusk/night with the figures moving through the woods in parallel shots or shots in alternate sequence. They get closer and the two merge into one. As they move closer, the woods begin to get lit gradually and they merge in a stream or halo of light in a close up shot. One figure is wrapped in scarlet semi-transparent fabric and the other in royal blue. They merge to form a person in translucent white with the fabric trapping shed and the body emerging.
Provide a brief sketch of the main character(s)
- Give the reader some idea about their gender, age, occupation, physical characteristics and basic personality traits.
- Briefly explain the main conflict the character faces in the film.
The main character is a young female (from 20-mid thirties) but you can’t tell the precise age because she is wrapped and covered in fabric. She is of medium height and slender. The specific personality traits and occupation are not disclosed because she represents an archetype of female experience.
However, the hypothetical character would be a female in early or mid thirties but slender and young looking. She has lived and grown up in two contrasting cultures of the east and the west. Her identity most of her life was defined by her eastern culture where she was raised to fulfill the role of a submissive wife serving her husband and family. As she migrates into the new culture and continues with her role, her prescribed identity comes into question when removed from the culture. She goes through many trials and leaves her husband to rescue herself and her children.
As she plunges into a new life by herself, every aspect of her identity begins to fall apart. She has left the role and identity defined by a husband, family, and culture. Free to define her own identity, she is faced with many dilemmas, conflicting desires, aspirations, and choices. She is neither completely defined by the eastern values or the western altogether, one culture versus the other, one gender role versus the other, one code of behavior and place in society versus the other. Yet they are all a part of her. Who is she outside of all the definitions she has always identified with?
She becomes aware of all the contradictory conflicts and struggles within a person in the process of learning and becoming. Balancing all the contradictions within is how she can meet her true self. The process of growth at its highest level of existence leads to enlightenment and achieving balance. This is one step of resolution in the process.
Describe the main plot and how the main character is involved.
- Make sure it has a beginning, middle, climax and end.
The story starts with a woman wrapped in fabric. There are 2 versions of the same woman, one wrapped in scarlet red lace, and the other in royal blue. Each rises from under the layer of fabric lit from underneath and as she moves up, the fabric wraps around her, clinging to her and binding her like a web. Each begins a dance. The scarlet woman is pushing the fabric off her and trying to free herself of it. The blue woman is dancing serenely with the fabric flowing smoothly with her movements.
Both begin a journey through the woods. The come across many obstacles, fallen trees on the way, paths overgrown with twigs and branches that they walk through as they continue to make their way out. They start getting closer and closer to the viewer from the deep, dark parts of the woods into a gradually more lit and open space. The film follows their journey.
They both move closer toward each other from the different directions and in the end merge together into one person. The fabrics shed and fall away and the person underneath is covered in translucent sheer covering move up and out into the light. It changes from night to dawn and it ends with the figure dancing in the light.
Include a few details about flashbacks, special effects or major action scenes.
- but only enough to convey the general flavor of the film. Use only details that are important to the plot.
Special effects would be dramatic, high contrast lighting, angle of views, time of the day changing from night to dawn, split scenes or parallel scenes one screen for some scenes, merging of the two figures and light emanating from the final figure.
Music would create the drama and mood. Instrumental music with sitar and tablas could be used for this. There could be an ending song.
The effects would be used to create mystery.
Finish your synopsis with a clear idea of how the film ends.
- Leave the reader satisfied, yet wanting to know more.
The film ends with a woman in some sheer translucent white fabric with her silhouette slightly blurred and her form giving an ethereal effect, shrouded in light, making her look translucent. She dances up and out of the blue and red colored fabrics and emerges translucent looking and rising in a beam of light with her long hair flowing around her, like some image of Venus rising. Like a light-footed fairy with some element of magic or supernatural, she begins to do a swirling dance. It ends with the person fading away and the music playing.
Impact - 6. I was left thinking about a movie called, "Disturbia" where there are split personalities conflicting with each other. I feel like this is more of a character description rather than a film. I really don't get the goal and the theme is pretty clear.
Clarity - The story isn't very clear because it was hard to break up what was the story and what was meant to just describe the character. the setting and backgrounds are of course spot on and the character seemed to have some personal goal set.
Potential - I think the story itself is incomplete and there is lots of room for an actual story, its just not as clear.
Overall Feedback - I would basically just work on the story aspect because the character description is over powering what your wanting the story to look and be.
