sisyphus

A hushed, handmade meditation that drifts by like a slow, grainy dream, asking you to sit with repetition and quiet heartache.

Directed by

Maureen Bradley

Overview

'Sisyphus' is a silent 16mm film shot on a Bolex exploring a journey that never ends. I made this film at renowned experimental filmmaker Phil Hoffman's Film Farm workshop in Mount Forest, Ontario. Originally, I wanted to create a simple statement about overcoming depression. The ultra short narrative in 'Sisyphus' uses heartbreak as a metaphor for depression, since depression is just that - being heartbroken about life. The creative process and the practice of handmaking films speaks to treating life as a work in progress, thereby positively embracing the permanence of Sisyphus in my life. The lush, organic imagery in 'Sisyphus' was created by hand-processing 16mm black and white footage in a bucket and hand-tinting and toning individual pieces of film.

How it feels

Melancholic, eerie and earnest. Slow-burning and demanding.

About

Isolation, grief, healing, obsession

Content

No violence, gore, sexual content or swearing.

Note

Written by AI, so it can be wrong. Full breakdown

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