The Springs
Watch The Film Here
A shepherd is herding sheep across a desolate landscape in search of the springs. Within the herd, a sheep begins to speak to her. The shepherd is surprised, yet hopeful, that she may well find compassion and connection with the sheep. The audience follows the mental narrative of the shepherd, as she attempts to find some form of meaning or comfort in her existence. However, with every notion, the shepherd is met with contempt from her talking companion.
The conversation between the two characters devolves into the devastating realisation that we are alone in this world. The shepherd eventually succumbs to the fact that she cannot change her circumstances and takes on the role of the sheep, while the sheep succeeds her as the new shepherd.
Development
Characters
Character A
Character A is a young woman searching for acceptance and belonging, voiced by Laura Djanegara. She is a leader, not because she is particularly confident or authoritative, but because she finds a sense of purpose in having a role. A has gone through periods of feeling isolated and hopes that her experiences will bring her closer to finding a deeper connection. She Although she is hopeful in the beginning, she is slowly disillusioned and succumbs to the role of the sheep.
Character B
Character B, voiced by Zoran Jevtic, is the antagonist of The Springs, and is the personification of the negative thoughts in A's head. There is something mischievous yet menacing in his words; often leading character A on, only to break her down. B propels the conversation that ultimately propels A to give away her power.
Loneliness can be a debilitating experience that can manifest without the proper care. This is the anchoring idea of The Springs: how we navigate the increasing feeling of isolation and longing for social connection, especially in recent years of the global pandemic. As humans, we search for resonance and empathy, much like the characters in the film search for water. Over the course of the journey Character A transitions from hope to nihilism over her circumstances, meanwhile Character B represents our inner doubts and anxieties when facing new situations. The Springs is an ambiguous and personal recounting of what it means to search for acceptance, and ultimately, what we would blindly sacrifice to achieve it.
