Summary

Inspired by journals written amid World War II this animated short explores a subjective interpretation of one soldier’s written words. Sam Cerra, author of the journals and grandfather to the filmmaker, begins his journey with enthusiasm before realizing the severity of being at war. Once fully immersed in the war, Sam’s growing fatigue drives him deeper into isolation and solitude. As these journal entries are recited the filmmaker uses a mixture of animation and photographs to visualize a surreal experience based on Sam’s actual written words.

Project Team

Creative Director - George Gantzer
Music - Matthew Davis
Narration - Alex Lefeld

Project Description

"This film is very personal to the filmmaker as the soldier whom this film is about, is the filmmaker's grandfather. Never having met Sam the filmmaker's understanding of him has come from childhood stories, photographs and interviews with living relatives. With the discovery of Sam's World War II journals the filmmaker was offered a unique opportunity to discover aspects of Sam's life through his own words. In this short animated biography the filmmaker uses animation to explore a subjective interpretation of Sam's written words and to add depth to the storytelling experience. This film's production process was used to explore the re-purposing of biographical artifacts, such as photographs, within 3D animation. This film also explores a visual style inspired by disconnected memories, found within the journals, and a surreal dream-like space."

Completed in 2010.