“Dodo” By ILAM

We can change your name and your first name, but never empty the blood from your veins which is mine.

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.

Through this project, I had the chance to dive into Senegalese culture to tell a true story lived by the artist of the song who plays here his own role on the screen.

The father-child bond is universal and speaks to everyone regardless of our origins. I wanted to tell this story of a father immersed in his loneliness and who thinks about his child and the moments spent with him.

ILAM sings in Wolof and I made the choice not to subtitle the lyrics of the song to give free rein to the interpretation but also to keep all the magic of the language.

Jean — Vital Joliat - Director

Credits

With: Ilam, Aza Kaöna Rony Dauphin
Adama Diallo, Khadim Agbo, Fox Alassane

Screenplay And Direction: Jean — Vital Joliat

Production: Gsi Musique
Associate Production Company: La 115e
Executive Producer: Kélyna N. Lauzier
Associate Executive Producer: Macha Houssart
Production And Post-Production Management: Laurie Pominville
Production Assistant: César Marchenna

Director Of Photography: Benoit Jones — Vallée
Camera Assistant: Benjamin Gagné
Art Direction: Marie — Andrée Brière
Editing: Jean — Vital Joliat
Sound Design: Christophe Voyer
Additional Sound Recording: Julien Imbert
Development And Digitization: Mels, Niagara Custom Lab, Main Film
Color Grading: Charles — Étienne Pascal (Shed)

Thank You: Sabina Rony, Amy Diagne, Mathieu Houel, Sonia Gouchie, Florent Lauzier, The Champenois Depanneur

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