Spiral

If you define yourself through other people - who are you?

Team

synopsis

All Agnes (15) wants is to win the Figure Skating Championships. At least, that’s what she thinks she wants. Agnes is on autopilot: ice-skating, schoolwork, ice-skating, church and ice-skating competitions. Her parents are proud of Agnes and Agnes likes to make them happy. Then Frankie (15) comes along, the new girl in Agnes’ training squad. Despite Frankie being her rival on the ice, Agnes is fascinated by her and does all she can to befriend her, even if Frankie’s behavior is sometimes dangerously volatile. Because Agnes has never had a close friend; especially not one like Frankie. As Agnes breaks free from her engrained routine she can’t seem to get enough of Frankie’s approval. This also transfers to Chris, Frankie’s older brother, when Agnes realizes just how close he and Frankie really are- perhaps a bit too close. But the harder Agnes tries to please, the more worryingly lost she becomes in her friendship to Frankie, losing control over her own emotions, desires and boundaries.

Director’statement

Spiral is a psychological drama about the need to feel needed, making wrong decisions in order to please other people and the fear of not being liked and accepted. I want to convey the sense of guilt that comes with believing that you are never good enough. I want to grasp the feelings of helplessness and loneliness when you are unable to emotionally separate yourself from someone else. And I want to explore the consequences of taking on responsibility for other people’s happiness. I am fascinated by both the effect one person can have on another without even realizing it, and the often detrimental effect a person can have on themselves, whilst believing the harm is brought on by someone else. It is my aim to take the viewer through these different states of mind; making them experience the turmoil with the protagonist Agnes, who can’t seem to face being honest with herself. The story unfolds within the arena of competitive ice-skating. A world in which a lot can hide behind beautiful performances and frozen smiles. The film will be set to a cold visual backdrop. Winter in a small town; frozen lakes, icy roads and a thin layer of snow covering things up.

TFL PROGRAMME:

ScriptLab 2011

Discover more details here:

PDF

TFL Catalogue 2011

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