Serafima Serafimova
We often use humour as a coping mechanism to help us navigate through the darkest moments in our lives. For example, I vividly remember hysterically laughing with my sister at a terribly inappropriate joke whilst painting the coffin of a beloved family member who had recently died. Over the years I have mentally collected equally macabre stories from the people around me, including that of a friend, who confessed to getting the giggles during her grandmother’s funeral, and another who, together with her cousin, had spent her uncle’s wake thinking of songs to do with water (Smoke on the Water, Sittin’ On The Dock of the Bay, Down By the River and so on). Her uncle had tragically drowned. But whilst it might appear strange or even distasteful, for me, turning to humour when life becomes overwhelming is not only understandable, it’s absolutely necessary.
Finnish director Inari Sirola also adopts a lighthearted approach to processing her own painful thoughts and experiences, which in turn inspired her bold and otherworldly animation Eating in The Dark. Perfectly described by Sirola as “a mind-bending trip of self-discovery” the nine-minute short, completed as her MA grad film at the Royal College of Arts, is brought to life through oozy cuteness and a slurpy soundscape. Featuring peculiar characters like a blood-weeping breast and a bunch of bouncing dildos (to name a few), Eating in The Dark is funny and gross in equal measures. But it’s the kind of gross that draws you in to take a closer look, a sniff, maybe even a taste with the tip of the tongue… And once you’re in it, you also discover something deeper, thought-provoking and positive – a light, which is ever-present, even in the darkest of tunnels.
“First and foremost, I hope people have fun watching my work, and if this sparks any deeper conversations, then that’s simply awesome” – Sirola on her filmmaking approach
The film opens in a sex shop where the main character, Siro, is looking for a new vibrator. Over her shoulder looms her inseparable companion Rici – a floating demon constantly scolding Siro and making her question herself. And every time her doubts and negative thoughts resurface, she gets transported to a magical forest inside her subconscious, filled with curious creatures with flaccid, droopy noses and long nipples, observing, judging and taunting her every move. As her journey continues, Siro’s visions become more and more extraordinary and disturbing.
“Suddenly precious elements of your life can become a source of embarrassment”
This fascinating world, painted with a vibrant colour palette and scored with arcade sound effects, hints at (though never pinpoints to) a Japanese setting – understandably, since Sirola started working on Eating in The Dark whilst living in Kyoto, as part of the Royal College of Arts Kyoto Exchange Programme. “Being somewhere where you’d always hoped to be yet completely alone, with nothing to remind you of who you are was shockingly difficult and eye-opening” – she shared with S/W – “I realised how fragile a person’s identity can be and how easily we can get lost. Personally, when I’m feeling vulnerable, other people’s opinions and comments weigh more than they should. Suddenly precious elements of your life can become a source of embarrassment, making way for self-doubt and insecurity. Ultimately, I wanted to illustrate these feelings and topics in this film”.
Blending surrealism, comedy and unique character design to explore themes like loneliness, sexuality and mental health, and doing so with the lightest of touches, is thoroughly refreshing. Whereas visualising Siro’s vulnerability and self hatred as a yellow, morphing blob with a penis-like nose and saggy udders suspended in mid-air, is just inspired. Because there’s humour and wit hidden in just about everything, and finding it is half the battle.
Eating in The Dark is a delicious treat wrapped in layers of fun and absurdity, but at its centre lies an impactful message of positivity, defiance and self-acceptance. It’s the perfect recipe that somehow leaves you both satisfied and hungry for more.