Iren Aseo

I explored the different facets of the human psyche; the id, the ego and the superego. The id represents our primal instincts and desires. It operates by the pleasure principle and seeks immediate gratification without considering consequences. In contrast, the superego functions as our internal moral compass, shaped by societal norms, cultural values, and personal experiences, striving for perfection and adhering to moral standards. Finally, the ego works as a mediator between the superego and the id, balancing their demands while taking the external reality into account. I wanted to explore a dynamic where the ego is disrupted. The desires and impulses, driven by the id, may clash with moral standards and societal expectations imposed by the superego.

The duality between the id (the heart) and superego (the mind) is manifested as a tug-of-war between intense emotional desires, driven by the id's relentless pursuit of gratification vs rational constraints. I wanted to show the inner world of a person that found themselves grappling with conflicting impulses as a result of the restrictions of the external world, torn between the overwhelming passion of their emotions and the need for self-control and rational behaviour. I have explored this through the lens of femininity; using an exaggerated female figure inspired by the Victorian era clothing as a representation of the power struggle through restriction of one’s body.

I have used symbolism to add depth to the characters portrayal; ‘sun’ for the superego represents the wisdom, grandiosity, providing light and guidance, while the ‘heart’ and spider-like elements for 'the heart' represents impulsivity, passion and being in tune with emotions. Spiders are associated with being cunning and deceptive and evoke notions such as bitterness, possessiveness, entrapment and danger, as they silently inhabit the forgotten corners of our houses. In dreams, they typically symbolise our anxieties and fears that lurk in the shadows. They also carry connotations of protection, guarding secrets meant to remain concealed. Carl Jung proposed that dreaming of a spider crawling on someone may reflect their darker, shameful aspects; their shadow self. This neglect of the true self may lead to a distorted expression of love, a love that has turned sour, which can be seen through the Heart character. 

I intended to set a surreal and dramatic ambiance in my film by using veristic imagery such as the sun and heart symbols. Additionally, by taking inspiration from historical garments within a setting that does not belong to that period, my goal was to evoke the feeling of displacement, strangeness, and dream-like familiarity. In this surreal realm where the lines ıf the traditional and contemporary is blurred, characters are liberated from the constraints of time, allowing for exploration of universal themes and emotions.