Rob Munday
The quest for love, the search for that special someone to “complete” you, is something the majority of us will be able to relate to. Whether you’re still looking, happily coupled or content on your own, there’s a certain pressure in society for individuals to pair up and find a life-partner. In her NFTS stop-motion Other Half, director Lina Kalcheva transforms this journey into an epic adventure as we follow individual being Ren on her search for completeness in a world comprised of merged couples.
Introducing us to its protagonist as they watch a play, also focused on an individual looking to become merged, we soon get a sense of their situation as they excitedly celebrate the show’s conclusion, surrounded by happy couples. After a visit to a statue of the great deity of love, Ren sets of on their quest, travelling through various landscapes and meeting a number of potential mates along the way.
As is often the case though, the message of Other Half isn’t simply that once you’ve found a partner your journey is over, instead Kalcheva wanted to take provoke a more self-reflective response from her audience. “We wanted to explore the ways in which changing yourself to be in a relationship won’t make you complete and that true completeness can only come from within”, the director explains when quizzed about her narrative for an interview with Directors Notes. Adding that she essentially views her short as “a coming-of-age film” where her protagonist has to find peace within and learn not to define “one’s value based on one’s romantic relationships”.
On their journey to find a potential partner Ren (R) encounters a number of self-obsessed candidates.
It’s a familiar storyline, but its Greek Myth inspiration and clay-motion aesthetic means it stands out as something distinct and memorable. Individually, these elements don’t initially appear too original – stories of self-acceptance, narratives inspired by classic Greek storytelling and plasticine animation have all be done before – but together they combine to form a short of impressive quality, in both story and style.
The world-building of Other Half is the first thing to impress, as the character design of the merged couples and the intricate environments immerse you in Kalcheva’s universe. As the narrative unfurls and we witness Ren’s desperate search for company and contentment our appreciation of the filmmaking evolves with it. Student filmmaking can often fail because of a lack of complexity and ambition, but there’s no lack of either here.
Premiering in Cannes Festival’s Cinéfondation selection, Other Half is an impressive calling-card for its creators and continues the tradition of notable stop-motion shorts emerging from the UK’s National Film and Television School. Kalcheva is already building on the film’s success with new short film Dawn Chorus – the story of a sleep-deprived young woman who must confront the unexpected visitor that plagues her every waking moment – in development.