“Catch Me” by Francisco Cruz

Lost in the physical memories of the past, she longs to be caught, thrown, and held by her acrobatic partner.

Francisco Cruz, Associate Artistic Director of The 7 Fingers, directs circus performers Harley McLeish and Anne-Marie Godin in Catch Me, exploring partner acrobatic hand to hand technique and original composition by Brooklyn based singer-songwriter Arum Rae.

The short film IN MEDIAS RUSH is an experimental cinematic journey into the depths of a manic mind. A poetic retro-sci-fi narrative unfolded in a string of unsettling tableaus that encapsulates the male protagonist’s ambiguous feelings about his birthday. While balancing between realities in his silent struggle with severe mental illness, we plunge into the film at a neatly orchestrated birthday party. The protagonist is accompanied by his girlfriend, and they are drinking cocoa on the couch in their mutual home. The setting breathes pure perfection, but through the voice over we sense that another reality is soon to be revealed. With one foot on the accelerator, he is heading towards the edge. The thematic focal point of IN MEDIAS RUSH is mental health problems among young adults, and the social/personal consequences related to the existing taboo on the subject. The film wishes to formulate an honest cinematic space in which words, sound, and image artistically interprets and articulates some of the perspectives related to especially bipolar, anxiety, and psychotic disorders. IN MEDIAS RUSH was nominated in the category 'Best Danish Short Film' at Copenhagen Short Film Festival in 2020. Original title: IN MEDIAS RÆS Directed by: Esben Persson -------------------- DK: IN MEDIAS RÆS IN MEDIAS RÆS er en filmisk rejse ind i dybderne af et manisk sind. En ung mand fejrer sin fødselsdag, mens hans tanker tordner afsted. Med en uvillig fod på speederen har han kurs mod kanten. FR: IN MEDIA RES IN MEDIA RES est un voyage dans les profondeurs d’un esprit maniaque. Un jeune homme fête son anniversaire tandis que ses pensées se multiplient. Malgré lui, il se dirige vers un point de non-retour. -------------------- Cast: Peter Alexander Bach & Amanda Overby Drew Director // Script writer // Set designer // Costume designer // Editor // Speaker: Esben Persson Photographer // Editor: Lasse Mølsted Producer: Latifa Lykke Ben Mabrouk Assistant producer: Cecilie Creutsberg Music composer: Martin Bejder Sound designer: Mads Hye Chief Lighting Technician: Rasmus Bruun Liboriussen VFX: Jonas Fonnesbæk Lodahl Colorist: Kristopher Paterson Graphic designer: Jakob Toft Kristensen -------------------- Shot on RED Monstro 8K with Lomo Squarefront Anamorphics.

From The Director

“Based on my own experience as a “base” in a partner acrobatic duo, I wanted to capture the intimate details of Hand to Hand technique while also addressing the loss I felt when I stopped practicing with my partner.

These physical memories become her past, present and future, as she faces a new reality alone. My reality. Tragically, my acrobatic partner passed away some years ago unexpectedly and yet I continue to feel his weight on my shoulders. He was also my brother. This film is dedicated to him. Raphael Cruz.”

-Franciso Cruz

credits

Director: Francisco Cruz @filmedbyfrancisco

Featuring: Harley McLeish @harleymacro & Anne-Marie Godin @anmagodin

Music composed by: Arum Rae @arumrae and Sami Freeman @samifreemanmusic

Color: Will Adashek

Cinematography / Edit: Francisco Cruz @filmedbyfrancisco

@films.dance

Creative Director: Jacob Jonas

Produced by @jacobjonasthecompany

Co-presented by @bam_brooklyn @harristheaterchicago @thesorayastage @stanfordlive


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