Strands
http://www.vimeo.com/7844409About Strands
Animated fingerprints interact with dancers in this live action / animated dance film about desire, consciousness and body memory.
Strands is a 5 minute dance film that explores the layers of desire in relation to the unconscious and the awareness we have of the impact of our actions. Much of the time we operate from mental patterns programmed over time and are unaware of what lies just below the surface. In the span of a second, our conscious mind processes a mere fraction of our environment in comparison with that of our unconscious.
As we move through life we inevitably leave marks behind. In the film these marks are shown through the animation of fingerprints. Our conscious mind struggling to become aware is represented by blue prints, our constant and always present unconscious by black prints, and white prints symbolize the marks our dualistic society leaves on us.
Bringing this film to life are three dancers, or characters, each connected to a set of fingerprints. Manifesting consciousness is the principal dancer Jonathan Turcotte, who in turn is manipulated by the other two characters and the animated strands of fingerprints. Marc Boivin, the second dancer, embodies both Jonathan’s desire and unconscious, whereas the final dancer, Clara Furey, who represents society, acts initially as an obstacle to Turcotte, yet eventually provides space for the two dancers to evolve. The relationship between Boivin and Turcotte shifts constantly between the weight, uncertainty and anticipation of desire.
The film begins with a blue ink blot splashing onto the screen, which dissolves, leaving only traces of fingerprints. The camera pans back, revealing a man, hand raised, whose prints unravel to the floor. At one point, the black prints coming from Boivin’s hands and feet, unravel into long strings, acting as marionettes, flailing Turcotte’s body up off the ground, controlling and manipulating his movements. Finally Turcotte gets unwound and freed by the forces that controlled him from the beginning.
Strands is in post-production and will be released April 2010.