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Orchids

A project by: Alexander Larner

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“A second chance at life. A final chance at love.”

A TERMINALLY ILL MAN WAKES UP FROM CRYOPRESERVATION AFTER 13 YEARS IN ORDER TO REUNITE WITH HIS DYING WIFE SO THAT THEY CAN PASS AWAY TOGETHER. HOWEVER AS TIME HAS PASSED, A CURE HAS BEEN DISCOVERED FOR HIS ILLNESS ,GIVING HIM THE CHOICE... TO DIE ALONGSIDE HIS ONE TRUE LOVE OR TO CONTINUE TO LIVE IN A WORLD HE NO LONGER RECOGNISES.

Concept teaser: Themes, visuals, mood

click the link to watch the: OrchidsConceptTrailer

context:

              In the year 2045, death is no longer the end. Technology has pushed the boundaries of mortality, and cryopreservation is now a growing industry. At the forefront is Reunion, a company offering a promise: no couple ever has to say goodbye alone. When one partner faces terminal illness, Reunion steps in, preserving them in a dormant state until their soulmate reaches the end of their own life. The partner is then revived… so that the couple can die together.

              The story:

                    Imagine the year is 2045, you are George, the protagonist. you wake up in a hospital bed, in a place you don’t recognise. your memory is fragmented, you cant remember how you ended up here. You find out your wife is in the bed next you, but you notice that she looks almost a decade older than when you last saw her. You're confused. No one will explain to you what’s happening. Your anxiety is rising... and then you remember.... you’ve woken up after 13 years in biostasis and then it hits... you’re dying. and you’re wife is dying too. You’ve been brought back solely for one purpose... to say goodbye to her. You panic, you want both of you to live longer to catch up on lost time. She’s ready to go. You search for an answer. There’s nothing you can do but wait as you get closer to the end together.

                    But then... A CURE. For you... but not for her. You can live, but she can’t. You’re stuck. She wants you to keeping going but, you made a promise to her, to die by her side... the most extraordinary act of love. Do you honour a promise to die alongside your soulmate even when death scares you... or do you continue to live in a world you no longer recognise? 

                    This is the question George keeps asking himself as his wife continues to deteriorate. Until one day he is forced to decide... She passed away. He can’t bare the thought of continuing without her. The film ends on a shot of George lying in his wife's bed. His medication poured into the plant pot on the bedside table, a rejection of the treatment keeping him alive. He lies motionless, A look of final satisfaction on his lifeless face. 

                    notes from the director 

                    It's been nearly 7 years now since my grandad passed away and not a day goes by where my grandma doesn't wish he was still here. It made me think... what if he suddenly just walked through the door again one day? What if he did come back for a day? What would she say to him? What would he say to her? Which then i thought, what would I say to him? How would he see the world now that everything has changed so much? I wanted to create a scenario where this dynamic could be explored and so I chose the route of a sci-fi specifically about bio stasis. I wanted to apply the sci-fi subtext while keeping the film as human as possible, using films such as 'Her' and 'After Yang' as reference. I love the way these films and other grounded sci-fi films create scenarios using sci-fi to explore the human condition. I feel these films are very relevant and incredibly powerful as they essentially predict how humans will react to new technology in the future. The film is also based on my experiences working in a dementia care home for 2 years, seeing firsthand the emotions of people at the end of their lives and the way they react with their loved ones and the world around them.

                    Why Now?

                    In a world where the development of technology is rapid and uncontrollable, it's easy to lose our sense of humanity and understanding of what brings us together.

                    Orchid’s is a film that aims to capture the essence of humanity and what it truly means to be alive in a world that is becoming increasing less human and increasingly more mechanical. 

                    visual references:

                    our crew

                    Writer/director: Alex Larner

                    Producer: Suzy Hopkinson

                    Producer: Harry Hope 

                    DOP: AJ Hussan 

                    Editor: Louis Wrench

                    Production Designer: Esther Nadeem 

                    First AD: Uliana Mizevych

                    Where will the money go?

                    • Talent: £800
                    • Props: £500
                    • Catering: £200
                    • Travel: £200
                    • Festival fund: £100
                    • Emergency: £200

                    Rewards

                    • £15 donation - Special thanks credit
                    • £50 donation - Early access to the film + invite to film premiere 
                    • £150 donation - Associate producer credit + early access to the film + invite to film premiere 
                    • £250 donation - Executive Producer credit + all of the above 

                    Find us here

                    Find more information about our production on instagram at @OrchidsShortFilm, @alexlarnerdirector and @harrymhope.

                    Help us succeed!

                    - Help us bring this project to life, we accept donations of any amount - even just £1 will go a long way to helping us get this film made!- If you are unable to donate please share with family and friends and anyone who might be interested in seeing this film be brought to life!