Every Love Story is a Ghost Story

My vision for this film was to delve into the intricacies of human behaviour, particularly our constant compulsion to compare ourselves to others. I have always been very interested in the exploration of themes of love, obsession, and most importantly, the very contemporary obsession of living our lives through those of others — a concept that's especially relevant in the age of social media. This harmful comparison often risks the loss of our identities, leading us to a deep sense of insecurity and confusion towards our actual lived experiences. Therefore, the film aims at presenting a perspective on our inherent tendency to always strive for more, for something that we are conditioned to consider to be inherently better, highlighting how this desire can confine us to a continuous journey of seeking and dissatisfaction. The narrative underscores the potential harm of this never-ending quest, suggesting it may lead to an existential crisis, where individuals lose sight of their unique selves in the relentless pursuit of comparison and aspiration. However, in relation to this, I also wanted to explore the idea of ‘ghosts’ inhabiting our relationship, from those that we bring with us from previous stories to those that are born from miscommunication and secrets. This concept that human relationships are haunted by ghosts of the past and a presence that goes beyond what is said and done, is incredibly fascinating to me. Through curated sound design and archival moving image collages, I wanted to weave this idea into the film’s narrative, without making it too disruptive yet constantly present.