Forced apart in childhood by the expectations of their cultures and the disapproval of their fathers, two men with a passion for dance reconnect through the tragedy of the pandemic. Choreographed by Akram Khan this short film uses rotoscope animation, created by hand-drawing over live action footage.

More than simply the clashing of expectation, the film warns about the cost of suppressing one’s dreams. The pandemic and its tragedies are not just backdrop but also catalyst. It’s used to illustrate how suddenness, isolation, grief, and being forced to confront losses can intensify existing tensions: between family and self, society and individuality.

I made sure to write the film exactly how I was going to edit it to facilitate Akram’s inclusion of the dance phases.

The film jumps back and forth between timelines, so it was very important to communicate every step of the way to keep the process coherent but to also make sure the dance portions were responding to the actions and feelings of the characters in the moment.