Program Note
Itto is about to give birth, continues her peaceful daily life while waiting for her husband, who is away on a long business trip. However, supernatural events start occurring, and a nationwide state of emergency ensues, shattering Itto’s routine. In order to survive, she sets out to find her husband leaving her home behind. As ominous events and extreme weather conditions persist, Itto’s journey becomes a series of hardships, and her only strength to overcome this crisis lies within herself.
Animalia, a feature debut of a Moroccan-French filmmaker Sofia Alaoui, boldly challenges various social issues, such as class, gender and identity, all within the framework of the science fiction. The supernatural phenomena, dystopian undertones, and chaotic imagery portrayed in the film are not confined to the realm of imagination. Within the film, they represent yet another face of oppressive violence imposed by dominant orders and conventions. The final situation that Itto encounters and her reaction to it resonate as a message of hope, encapsulating the film’s underlying desire for liberation. (Jin PARK)