Moments I Saw In Red
'Moments I Saw In Red' is an experimental short film that explores the relationship between trauma, synaesthesia, and art. Shot on 8mm film, the film follows the story of a person with PTSD and synaesthesia who is recounting their memories associated with the color red.
Synaesthesia is a rare neurological condition, whereby the senses get crossed and one might perceive things like colors or sounds while seeing or hearing other things. For the protagonist of 'Moments', their memories of crossing Calais, a school crush, and realising their trans identity all get "filed" under the colour red.
The film's unique use of 8mm film, original music, and a spoken word voiceover guides the audience through the protagonist's journey, as they meditate on their experiences and find a way to heal through artistic expression.
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Penn BalintDirector
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Penn BalintWriter
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Yana LarkhanidiKey Cast"X (on screen)"
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Penn BalintKey Cast"X (voice)"
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Penn BalintProducer
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Penn BalintCinematographer
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Project Type:Experimental, Short
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Runtime:2 minutes 24 seconds
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Completion Date:April 7, 2023
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Production Budget:500 GBP
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Country of Origin:United Kingdom
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Country of Filming:United Kingdom
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Language:English
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Shooting Format:Super 8
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Aspect Ratio:4:3
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Film Color:Color
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First-time Filmmaker:Yes
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Student Project:No
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Queer Vision Film FestivalBristol
United Kingdom
July 6, 2023
Official Selection -
Grrl Haus Cinema Film FestivalBerlin
Germany
September 2, 2023
German Premiere
Official Selection -
Darkroom Film FestivalLondon
United Kingdom
September 23, 2023
Official Selection -
Queer Film Festival MunichMunich
Germany
October 12, 2023
Official Selection -
Oska Bright Film FestivalBrighton
United Kingdom
March 14, 2024
Official Selection
Penn Bálint (they/he) is a Hungarian multidisciplinary artist settled in Devon. Penn founded The Yoko Situation, an art collective centering trans- and disabled narratives. 'Moments I Saw in Red' is their first film.
Penn is currently in post-production for their next short, 'Soviet Fantasia', which blends queer culture, dance, folklore and synth-pop and was commissioned by Exeter Phoenix. He was also selected for the BFI New Voices Scheme in 2023, during which he will receive mentorship to develop a new script.
'Moments I Saw In Red' is an extremely personal film to me. I thought a lot about my own experiences of emigrating to the UK and coming to terms with my identity as a trans person when writing.
A lot of the movement in the film is improvised, interspersed with symbolic shots that allude to the fractured nature of living with PTSD. Half spoken word- half rap, the soundtrack is meant to provide a hypnotic order to the pieces of memory - representing the wholeness of the person who holds them.
I hope that viewers of the film walk away with a sense of the beauty that can be created in spite of- and because of the neurodiverse mind's experience of trauma.