ANIMA

Anima is a visual narration taking place in between the open sky and the far views of a cityscape in Shanghai, which carries in its womb an infinite of untold stories.
In an attempt to explore the domain of human emotions and body as holistic art forms, in constant mutation, I left the Dancers performed in total improvisation. They used their body and sensibility as the substance of their poetry, to weave an aesthetic dialogue with the urban landscape, melting in a silent intimacy, to reveal its dramatic imprint.

Rather than being storytelling, the choice of purely cinematic aesthetical treatment enhances the emotional continuum every human experiences as a timeless moment with no beginning, either no end. As Hermann Hesse wrote, Human merely oscillates between 2 poles, but between thousands and thousands. Every ego, so far from being a unity is in the highest degree a manifold world, a constellated heaven, a chaos of form, of inheritances and potentialities. In this dance, each character is a refraction of its isolated nature, as much as the mirror of its variable states.

  • Matthieu Belin
    Director
  • Matthieu Belin
    Writer
  • ABOUT US Studio
    Producer
  • Irene Sposetti
    Key Cast
  • Anneliese Charek
    Key Cast
  • Hao Nan
    Key Cast
  • Project Type:
    Experimental
  • Genres:
    Experimental, visual art, dance, fashion
  • Runtime:
    4 minutes 25 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    November 11, 2018
  • Production Budget:
    1,500 USD
  • Country of Origin:
    France
  • Country of Filming:
    China
  • Shooting Format:
    ALEXA MINI and Phantom
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
  • NOWNESS CHINESE WEBSITE
    shanghai
    China
    November 11, 2018
  • L.A. DANCE SHORT FIRST PICK OF THE FESTIVAL AWARD
    Los Angeles
    United States
    L.A. DANCE SHORTS FESTIVAL
    PICK OF THE FEST
Director Biography - Matthieu Belin

With 20 years of experience in the creative field, Matthieu has spanned the understanding of image creation throughout many approaches: Graphic design, Luxury, Cosmetic, Architecture, Photography, Video & Creative Direction.

He had the opportunity during those years to sharpen his expertise in long term collaborations with brand such as EBEL Watches LVMH, YUE SAI Cosmetics, NATURA Brasil, DELSEY, as well as with the Pritzker Priced architect Christian de Portzamparc. The challenges demanded to redefine the fundamentals of the brands from ideation to conceptualization. To achieve such visions Matthieu was committed to elevate brand recognition, rethink the brand positioning, identify brand codes, visual territories and implement concepts to image creation. A creative journey which give him now a full understanding of the creative eco-system.

Within the last 13 years spent in China, Matthieu managed to contribute substantially in the opening in Shanghai of a renown French advertising company and recently a French production & art buying company. 6 years of in depth experiences in the Chinese market, with management and creative direction responsibilities.

Following a strong desire to become a fashion photographer, and director he created ABOUT US Studio, to devote himself to photography and videography so as to encapsulate his experience in the service of a visual journey. Since then he has been shooting for Magazines like GQ, Vogue, Bazaar, Vision, Elle Men, Elle, Surface, Life, Wallpaper and brands such as Adidas, Erdos, Yue Sai (L’Oréal), Li-Ning, Cartier, Mido, Natura, Clarks, Rado, Tag Heuer, Huawei, Wandian.

He is also an award winning documentary photographer with several exhibitions in France.

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Director Statement

Working with images echoes my desire to understand the world around me and its people. Each element is essential in the process of capturing photos as an art form, playing with the interdependence of light, time and contemplation. Exploring consciousness through the eye of possibility, I am unendingly fascinated by the mysteries of forms and the surprising secrets they can unveil.