Mia Sunshine Jones is a struggling arts programme student unable to complete a project telling the world who she really is. Her professor and fellow students are far from impressed with her efforts and Mia is given a one-week deadline by her professor to produce a passable artwork.
It isn’t too long before the viewer witnesses the anger, frustration and bitterness that is Mia. Mia is a mess. What is the cause?
Mia has a creative block preventing her from delivering her art project and is advised by members of a band performing at a club she attended their creative block was lifted by band member Desdemona’s godmother’s magical elixir. Mia heads to the godmother and purchases a pill with “LUCID” stamped on it with a dosage of a little nibble every night before bed will begin the dissolution of her creative block with a warning she must not eat the entire tablet in one swallow which she does.
Then the on and off magic mushroom trip begins with its psychedelic cinematography bearing in mind LUCID is not a psychedelic. The 35- and 16-mm film, FX monsters, eccentric characters and trippy plot with eclectic music create the perfect “avant garde” film.
Mia must find her block to recognize exactly its nature so she can move on. Her voyage is surreal, full of monsters and mayhem and at times nightmarish. Frequent flashbacks to her childhood and her hippy musician parents, repeated imagery of knives and sharpened scissors suggest the block may have been rooted in her childhood with a violent component.
The cinematography, soundtrack, rock solid casting near perfection and writing lay the foundation for a nouveau Canadian classic film. Caitlin Acken Taylor excels as Mia in a very difficult role requiring a wide range of emotions she masters with mesmerizing excellence.
“LUCID” will world premiere at Fantasia International Film Festival in Montreal on 21July2025.
Directed and written by Deanna Milligan and Ramsey Fendall.
RKS 2025 Canadian Film Rating 96/100.
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