Art Beats Festival 24

FLEAS (Maria-Ella-May Hill)

13min 7s – 16:9

Synopsis

FLEAS is a short film inspired by the German Expressionist and Surrealist movements to analyse and deconstruct the feudal class stereotypes permeating British society. Creating dialogue through the language of symbols, FLEAS is designed to create discomfort and an active spectatorship through a narrative centring a lower-class, nuclear family. FLEAS fights against the idea of people being stereotypes through poetic filmmaking which creates multiple interpretations; like people, the symbols within FLEAS are not a monopoly.

Artist Statement

I am thrilled to present ‘FLEAS,’ a deeply personal film that delves into the complexities of poverty and class stereotypes in the UK. Drawing from my own experiences, the film confronts the dichotomy of a society struggling with economic disparity while dismissing the struggles of its most vulnerable citizens.

Inspired by Surrealist and German Expressionist movements, ‘FLEAS’ utilises a vivid visual language to critique prevailing views of lower class citizens in the UK. Through the use of symbols and liminal spaces, the film invites viewers to intellectually engage with their own perceptions of class and the artificiality of societal stereotypes. I engage with Kammerspide techniques in German Expressionist films to create a claustrophobic atmosphere reflective of being pigeonholed by class stereotypes.

The pre-production process utilises surrealist techniques, liberating the mind, as to reflect on the constraints imposed by socio-political constraints and stereotypes.

I am immensely proud of the cast and crew who brought my unique and strange vision to life. I am grateful for the opportunity to showcase the resilience and complexity of individuals often marginalised by society.

All of these elements are designed to create active spectatorship and I encourage viewers to engage with the poetic layers of ‘FLEAS,’ exploring the range of interpretations embedded within its symbolism. These levels of multiple interpretation reflect how people are not monoliths and can choose what they want to become.

At its core, ‘FLEAS’ seeks to dismantle the confines of class constructs, challenging viewers to see beyond surface-level assumptions.

Maria-Ella-May Hill

Maria-Ella-May Hill is a young, award-winning filmmaker known for their expressionist filmmaking style and interest in character psychology. Starting out as a photographer, Maria’s distinctly visual style has developed during her undergraduate degree in Film at Lancaster University, where she studied expressionist and experimental cinema. So far in their early career, they have written and been cinematographer for multiple award winning short films, from ‘Platform’ (2022) and ‘To Feel So Many feelings’ which was awarded third place at international film festival Art Beats.

At the heart of Maria’s filmmaking is an exploration of self-identity and the development of empathy through a dissociative lens, inspired by filmmakers such as David Lowery, Charlotte Wells, and Cristobal Leon and Joapquin Cocina. Maria’s interest in literature and poetry often bleeds into her work with symbolic imagery and dream sequences.

With an impressingly promising body of work, Maria is a young filmmaker dedicated in creating active spectatorship through an intense visual language.