Aristeia

When a dancer follows a stranger on her way to work, a surprising conversation unfolds between them where unexpected connections are revealed.

  • Michael McLennan
    Director
    pinch me, Go Quickly, A Tea Party for Sad People, Traveller
  • Michael McLennan
    Writer
    pinch me, Go Quickly, The Way You Move, Traveller
  • Michael McLennan
    Producer
    pinch me, Go Quickly, The Way You Move, Traveller
  • Miriam Green
    Key Cast
    "Annalise"
  • Nicola Frugtniet
    Key Cast
    "Marta"
  • Rahul Dorai
    Cinematography
    The Way You Move, Damsel'd
  • Shamala
    Music
  • Project Type:
    Short
  • Genres:
    Drama, Thriller, Philosophical
  • Runtime:
    19 minutes 17 seconds
  • Completion Date:
    January 31, 2023
  • Production Budget:
    15,000 AUD
  • Country of Origin:
    Australia
  • Country of Filming:
    Australia
  • Shooting Format:
    Digital Ursa G2 Ironglass Lenses
  • Aspect Ratio:
    16:9
  • Film Color:
    Color
  • First-time Filmmaker:
    No
  • Student Project:
    No
Distribution Information
  • Wavelength Films
    Distributor
    Country: Australia
    Rights: All Rights
Director Biography - Michael McLennan

Michael McLennan is an Australian-based writer/director whose short films have played at film festivals around the world. These films include 'pinch me', 'Traveller', ‘Standby’, ‘A Tea Party for Sad People’ and ‘Go Quickly’. He was Head of Production and Head of Film at Sydney Film School, where he taught Screen Language, Writing, Post-Production and Creativity, and supervised over 500 short films made at the School. He has taught film more broadly at Academy of Film Theatre and Television, AFTRS, Excelsia College, Bradfield College, the Conservatorium of Music, TAFE NSW and AIT. Michael currently has three feature scripts in development, and is completing post-production on science fiction project 'Initiate: Connect'.

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Director Statement

People respond to the uncertainty of their future in different ways. Some lean on intuition. Some submit to pragmatism - they do not hope for much, and aim for something they can believe in. Others still look for signs that they are doing the right thing. In this story, two people of different approaches cross paths.

Aristeia was written around its actors. Miriam brings an innocence to Annalise that balances the tension generated by her actions. Although she is our entry point to this world, we do not know what she wants or what she is capable of. Nicola's curious balancing of pragmatism and empathy makes her Marta equally unique.

Kieslowski's Double Life of Veronique was our guiding star. Equally we were inspired by the lonely nightscapes of Wong Kar Wai's films, and Claire Denis' Vendredit Soir. The creative team desired to bring the sensibility of these extraordinary works to the very real setting of a night-time cafe in Sydney and the train lines that run through it.

The title Aristeia alludes to the Platonic feminine ideal that one character in the film is searching for. Although she may not ultimately find it, she is not wrong that such a thing exists, and not merely for her benefit.