An interview with the Director of Unicorn Lady, screening at the 2024 Mosaic World Film Festival.
The animated short film delicately unfolds the poignant story of a protagonist, a resilient cancer survivor emerging from the shadows of a mastectomy. It’s a deeply moving portrayal of her journey, evolving from a life marked by a physical scar to one where she weaves her experiences into a breathtaking mosaic of treasured moments. This narrative is a metaphorical transition from the confines of bodily afflictions to a profound, celebrated understanding of existence. She stands as a beacon of this profound metamorphosis. Her days, imbued with both pain and rebirth, are likened to the delicate, purposeful stitches of a needle through fabric, each one contributing to the magnificent embroidery of life. This film is a touching ode to human endurance, the art of embracing scars, and the beauty in turning suffering into a masterpiece of lived experience.
1. What drew you to create this film?
The film ‘Unicorn Lady’ is a visual interpretation of a poem about a woman who has undergone a mastectomy. In a culture obsessed with the size, shape, and color of breasts as measures of feminine beauty, the protagonist celebrates the physical diversity of a woman’s body and her unique experience of living with one breast. I have lived with an aunt who underwent a mastectomy and continued to wear a bra out of fear of societal judgment. I also have a transgender friend who has undergone a mastectomy but has never revealed their scar due to similar concerns. Given these experiences, I felt it essential to present this film to resonate with women, trans men, and anyone who values life and embraces diversity.
2. What does filmmaking mean to you?
Filmmaking is a way of life for me. It’s my process of observing the world around and within me.
3. What advice would you give students or beginners that want to make films?
Enjoy making films. The process is more important than the final product. If you’ve enjoyed making the film, you’ve succeeded. Observe what’s happening in the world. Make imperfect movies.
4. What films do you watch again and again?
1) films of Agnes Varda (French film maker) Vagabond, One sings, the other doesn’t.
2) Animation films of Joanna Quinn, Bill Plympton. (Affairs of art, Body Beautiful, Your face, Guard Dog)
3) South Indian film makers Vetrimaaran, Lijo Jose Pallissery (Nanpakal Nerath Mayakkam, Vedhuthalai)
Thank you Rebecca!
You can get tickets for the #2024mwff here: https://filmfreeway.com/MosaicWorldFilmFestival/tickets