Solar

Jessica Arseneau / France, Germany / 2022 / European Premiere / 15 min.

synopsis

Loosely based on J.G. Ballard's short story The Day of Forever (1966), the film explores the idea of the suspended sun and the impact of permanent light on human experience and the experience of time. The voice-over, which accompanies images of slowly rolling wisps of fog, the peeling contours of a place of sleep, or the delicate and detailed structures of lichens and mosses, contemplates the dreaming that was once an alternative to waking.

“The Sun kept setting — setting — still
No Hue of Afternoon —
Upon the Village I perceived
From House to House 'twas Noon —

The Dusk kept dropping — dropping — still
No Dew upon the Grass —
But only on my Forehead stopped —
And wandered in my Face —

My Feet kept drowsing — drowsing — still
My fingers were awake —
Yet why so little sound — Myself
Unto my Seeming — make?

How well I knew the Light before —
I could see it now —
'Tis Dying — I am doing — but
I'm not afraid to know —”

— Emily Dickinson

biography

Jessica Arseneau (1988) was born in Canada and studied media arts at the Academy of Fine Arts in Leipzig. Her work explores how technological advances shape human experience and transform natural rhythms. She draws on science-fiction narratives, mythologies, imaginings of the future and critical readings to activate the components of her work. The starting point of her installations is usually a video projection accompanied by sound, texts, lights and photographs.

more about film

director:	Jessica Arseneau
cast:	Aurélien Finance, Kiki DeGonzag
producer:	Jessica Arseneau
script:	Jessica Arseneau
photography:	Laura Haby, Laura Haby
editing:	Jessica Arseneau
sound:	Luna Baby