An intimate insight into early motherhood reveals the roots of life perceived from the viewpoint of two individuals that were once one. Unwanted toys on the playground form a synergetic bond with nature. A fertile soil gives birth to seeds, plants and small colorful objects. A baby travels into distant worlds in the mother’s womb, while a garden compost sings a lullaby. The pregnant woman is not shy and shows her belly growing. But she shyly reveals the Polaroid photo of her baby sprayed with breast milk. Nature grows a small microcosms of organisms on the photo to ease her self-absorption. The Earth is budding up with all the mommies in the world and they are building a farm together.
Sandra Jovanovska, a young multimedia artist in Slovenia, studied French and English before pursuing further education at the Academy of Arts, University of Nova Gorica. She engages in diverse artistic endeavors in the cultural sector, collaborating with independent initiatives globally. Working across digital and analog media, her film "Scarecrow cross" won Best Student Film at "Cinedays" in Skopje, and "Animals Are Special Effects" earned Best Experimental Film at the "Progeny Short Film Festival" in Blagsburg, USA. Her acclaimed master's film "Soma" has received seven awards and screened at over forty festivals. Sandra, currently completing a master's in media arts, is self-employed in culture and a regular contributor to Kinoatelje in Gorizia.
“I anticipate this animation to be a powerful intimate vision into my growth during the process of early maternal life. Because I experienced pregnancy and early motherhood as a fairly isolated journey, I have an irresistible feeling of sharing this superimposed emotional state. I feel the best way to do this is by means of images and poetry. Abstract to some extent. Controlled but without any need to be in control.
On the other hand, I am quite intrigued by how we look at things, in particular how babies, unburdened by societies interact with objects in everyday life. I cannot help but notice that a small baby gazes at things that have eyes. By photographing different portraits and aligning them in such a way that the eye has its own trajectory, I want to explore if the brain distinguishes the depictions normally due to the natural flow of movement. The same goes for shapes and patterns. Following the idea of a fluid natural cycle I want to explore how textile or printed patterns can be transformed into organic arrangements. Along the same lines I shall experiment with drawings on paper and other objects by burying them in the ground or merging them with natural materials to get a more interrelated backgrounds or excerpts. In such a way, I wish to balance the rough visual material and bring it closer to the poetic narrative.
Therefore, unlike classical animation, objects, entities and transformation of forms will become the basic protagonist of the story and the mix of different animation techniques and styles will altogether constitute the language of the film and give it a patina of dirt, chaos and ultimately, life.
What is more, the music and sound design are tightly tied to the rhythm of the animation. The sonic mood board is predominately highlighted by the sound of percussion, jazzy tunes, now and then accompanied by singing in harmony.
However, having said all that, another, perhaps a most important director’s vision comes from the new being that entered my life and makes each day a valuable new lesson. Hence, I would leave a vast amount of this director’s vision unspoken, to let new growth come to life.”
Staragara is one of Slovenia’s leading film production companies, known for its strong portfolio and dynamic output. Over the past 20 years, they have built a skilled production team and a wide network of collaborators across Eastern and wider Europe. As a delegate producer, Staragara has created nine acclaimed feature films and participated in numerous minority co-productions, with premieres at top festivals including Venice, Cannes, Berlinale, San Sebastian, Locarno, and Tribeca. Their track record reflects a deep commitment to quality and innovation in filmmaking.