STORY
Synopsis
An adolescent boy attempts to untangle his memories of a mysterious infestation, the unravelling of his father, and the little creatures inside us all.
Director's Statement
I think we all reassess the memories we have of our parents as we get older. This is especially true if we have a parent that was volatile or destructive – our memories of these giants can take on an almost mythic quality.
Over time, we can we try to seek a deeper understanding. Who were they? Were they tormented themselves? Or mentally ill? What is the story we tell to understand these people?
Where a destructive parent is concerned, there is also a child's fear of inheriting that damage, and what control, if any, a person can have over that.
With 'All These Creatures' I wanted to explore these themes in a way that was immersive and visceral. To follow the memories of someone trying to understand a parent and the damage caused and, in the process, examine their own potentially unreliable experience of the world.
My hope is that the film can deliver some sense of understanding for those volatile creatures who cause harm in our lives. Is it possible to see them outside of just who they are in our memories?
Even if there are tragic consequences, can we still find some compassion for their struggle - and our own?