“Autophagy”, a British production, could be enjoyed as an amusing claymation trip attractive due to its striking animation and threatening soundtrack. But it could be viewed as a wickedly sarcastic view of those terrible COVID days.
Redcap is a quiet coastal town ravaged by an Octopi Epidemic, a waterborne disease that transforms humans, in a gooey and bloody fashion, into octopi.
The crisis has spread beyond Redcap throughout the nation. Panicked traffic jams inch out of Redcap to perceived safety.
An elderly Redcapian couple living in poverty sit on the couch watching the telly. One is afflicted by the disease slowly transforming into an octopus. There are medicines available but only the well off can afford them leaving the masses unprotected and vulnerable as clean water is also too expensive for many. Poverty and good health are not good bedfellows. A national healthcare system that does not include medication isn’t much help to those who need it most.
And those afflicted are treated like lepers. So much for a caring society where the afflicted are shunned. The short starts with a crude street sweeper shoving his face full of food trying to run down a newly converted octopus.
Even if the message in “Autophagy” criticizes the callousness of society, the failure of a medical system to treat all and the inequality of poverty in relation to mortality it is a most amusing ride!
Directed and animated by Edie Lawrence.
Playing 7March2025 at 13:00hrs at VIFF as a Canadian premiere part of the Rise Short Programme.
The 20th anniversary of GEMFest champions women in cinema and gender-diverse filmmakers.
RKS 2025 Film 91/100.
A Bird's Eye View of Fashion, Food, Travel, Culture, Beverage and Curiosity 