Non-binary multi-disciplinary artist Anil Sebastian’s debut film is a wonderfully designed exploration of artificial intelligence, gender and identity that is a joy to watch and listen to.
Anil not only wrote the script and devised the musical soundtrack but also produces a solo performance as a rogue scientist determined to recreate a dead child from video memories.
Huge glass tubes at a secret scientific establishment have swirling blood-red substances within them, and this is just one of many special effects created alongside Thomas Rawle’s vivid and magnetic animation.
Cleverly inter-cut with home movies of Anil as a child, Daffodil is both a controversial guesstimate of our future but also a touching attempt to capture lost previous moments.
When the AI creation Ingmar comes to life, it is a Dali-esque globular figure floating in millions of highly-coloured particles. The other-worldliness is accentuated by the beautiful choral harmonies of the London contemporary voices choir.
When a dialogue window is opened by the scientist Ingmar eventually repeats dialogue from the childhood videos – a spine-tingling moment.
Is it fear of the unknown future or a Frankenstein- like guilt of unauthorised creation that leads the scientist to delete the sentient being ? And will there be another future attempt? Who can say? – but this 20-minute fantasy would be best watched on a large screen and with big speakers. It’s breathtaking.
Directed by Anil and Thiing Studios , Daffodil is available to view on video channel NOWNESS.
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