Off the Path
Best Lookbook Mason Film Festival
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At the crux of two diverging paths, a young woman must choose between what is expected of her and who she wants to be.
SYNOPSIS
We follow the journey of Valera, a young woman yearning to forge her
own path in life, to empower herself, and grow. Her mothers, Elena
and Skalmae, would prefer that she follow in their footsteps to learn a
traditional craft such as metalsmithing or running their family's
apothecary. Their "encouragement" drives Valera further away from
them. She meets often with a mysterious boy in the woods, Gerald, to
secretly practice magic. As she grows in her abilities under his
influence, and the tension at home reaches a breaking point, Valera
lashes out and unintentionally wounds Elena. Terrified, Valera seeks
comfort in Gerald. She ultimately decides to leave her home, and her family, behind.
Artist's Statement
Off the Path is a fantasy reimagining of the classic coming-of-age genre. When working within the scope of fantasy, there is a lot of room to play with the narrative, mise en scene, and character. The film incorporates mythical lore such as magic, Elves, Dwarves, and Gods that walk among men. At its core, my film is character-driven with a tight knit cast of characters to drive the story. I was inspired by other works such as Lord of the Rings and Critical Role that are similarly focused on their characters to bridge empathy in the audience. That connection between my work and the audience is crucial for me. I want the audience to immerse themselves in the magical world that I've crafted while simultaneously discovering a part of themselves in the characters we follow.
Kate Kinkead
