As I waited for the premiere for Her Rotting Apples to begin, the mood was enthusiastic – the spirit of student filmmaking was everywhere with colourful hairs, patterned ties, and dotted skirts. It was a gathering, a gala, an event. To not quantify my enjoyment, it is safe to say that this experience was a big part of my appreciation for the film. As the lights dim and the director, Ella Novie, stands on stage presenting her film, she says “I hope you guys enjoy it… I hope you find it weird.”
Her Rotting Apples, starring Molly Marse, Dom Bajora, and Torta Winters, is a short film, an elusive format which can easily leave a lot to be desired. But the crew is able to grab the 12 minutes running-time and make them their own. For 12 whole minutes, this surrealist, dreamy piece transports us to the main character’s mind: her safe haven as well as her prison.
In conversation with the director, Novie mentions how deeply personal this project is. “I think it was very scary, I used a lot of the dialogue and the words from […] my own diary,” she says, “and that’s so terrifying because obviously people don’t entirely know that, but I do.” But this does come across. The film thrives in its ability to tear itself open and show the audience the ugliest, rawest, and realest parts of what mental health struggles can look like, especially in girls.
The highlight of this film, to me, was the double-exposure used to signify the weaving of a bleak reality with a surrealist mind escape in which the girl, played by Marse, encounters – listen to this – a man with a horse head, played by Bajora. They dance, they share apples, they talk and sing and whisper, and the horse head never seems out of place. The relationship between the two rapidly turns sour, culminating in a scene where he abuses the girl. Especially in emotionally-demanding moments such as this one, the performances left a lot to be desired, yet the film makes up for it with its immersive atmosphere. With half of the filming locations being out in nature, the sounds of the forest merge with haunting whispers in a masterful display of sound-editing. The use of voice distortion may seem overdone at times, overshadowing Bajora’s performance. Still, the film is strong in most of its composition and leaves the viewer wishing for more of this hauntingly beautiful narrative.
This film comes out of Memento Pictures Ltd, a women-led production company founded by Noor Kabbani, Emily Rose Sharp, and Ella Novie that seeks to expand representation within the film industry. Kabbani also produced this film, one of many collaborations with Novie. When asked about what to look out for, the duo hinted at three projects currently in editing, potentially premiering in May. If nothing else, let this article be a call-to-action to support student filmmaking. Keep this community alive! Attend society screenings! And, above everything else, be an audience member.
Image provided by Memento Pictures Ltd