This Place
Director’s Bio
Andy and John both graduated from Liverpool John Moores University with a first-class degree in Film Studies in 2020. Andy was awarded the Lynda La Plante Fund Prize for Practice as Research. Both individually and collaboratively, Andy and John have produced sensory-based short films focusing on nature, landscape, and the ecological connections between humans, animals, and their surroundings.
Andy Heath, John Tod
Liverpool John Moores University
UK, 2020
Synopsis
On a silent dairy farm, one young woman’s sense of entrapment is exacerbated by her everyday life. The juxtaposing natural and mechanical landscapes envelop her as she realises her every-growing desire for freedom. Enhanced by the sound design, the choking sense of claustrophobia is evident despite the setting of the sprawling British countryside. She begins to see herself in the eyes of the cattle being herded, and eerie similarities between animal and machine become more and more apparent. Very much a sensory watch, This Place exposes the often-unsettling realisation that one needs to break away from comfort and familiarity or be trapped in routine forever.
Credits
Directors: Andy Heath, John Tod
Producers: Demelza Kooij, Lars Koens
Writers: Andy Heath, John Tod
DoPs: Andy Heath, John Tod
Editors: Andy Heath, John Tod
Sound Design: Andy Heath, John Tod
Cast: Gina Jamieson, Beth Turton
We hope you enjoyed the film. Please leave a message below to share your thoughts.
Fabulous sound effects
You can really get a feel for the life on the farm!
Fantastic piece of short fiction from what looks like an incredibly talented duo. The film evokes the manner of both slow cinema and experimental film to great success, presenting an existential snapshot of isolation, identity and time. Great work from the filmmakers and actors, well done to you all.
The visuals and cinematographic values of this film are astounding, but I feel it is the soundscape that is most memorable. It is a film that shows creativity in the demonstration of minimalism but with dramatic effect. No dialogue is needed, in my opinion, it would ruin the atmosphere beautifully created by the filmmakers. The younger sister is the standout. Her longing for freedom is evident and her discomfort in the almost hellish and mechanical landscape is emotive. Beautiful parallels between machine and animal are established, and the long sequence of almost kubrickian stares into camera is one of the more memorable parts of the film.
Pure sound without an uttered word (except moo) evokes longing, emotion and empathy. Genius effects float the viewer through a tedious day broken by the silence of wind and tears. An impressive and memorable short film.