Single-Frame Film — Robert’s Extended Substance
Description
Stretched Substance is a single-frame film in the style of Kafkaesque absurdity—a black-and-white comic with humor about death, bureaucracy, insurance against «tomorrow,» and metamorphosis into a butterfly.
Logline
Trying to hide from death and tomorrow, Robert cannot hide from his internal metamorphosis into a butterfly. Tomorrow does not set Robert’s prolonged substance free, but rather sets him in flight.
Synopsis
Sofia died right on the concrete near the road. The investigator takes her hand to check for a pulse, but feels only emptiness and cold. He writes a note stating that his wife has died and asks someone who knows Sofia’s husband to deliver the paper. A long chain of note delivery begins, passing from strange person to surprisingly strange person, all of whom react to the news of her death with astonishing indifference. The bureaucratic circle of acquaintances ends when Maria finds Sofia’s husband—Robert’s—apartment and hands him the note. Robert lights up thoughtfully, sees the silhouette of his dead wife, and they discuss the death. Unlike his wife, the protagonist does not wish to die, so he takes out insurance against «Tomorrow» from a special mystical insurance company. After that, he transforms into a butterfly and flies off the balcony.
Stylistics
For the film, an unconventional black-and-white comic book style was chosen, featuring heavy grain and high contrast—reminiscent of corrupted images riddled with artifacts. The abundance of poly screens further develops the comic book aesthetic within the film. All of this creates a unique, absurd world that one wants to immerse themselves in.
Animation
To transform into a butterfly, stop-motion animation of a Gothic black butterfly was chosen.
STAFF
