Fathoming Dinner 𐙚
Project details
- Year
- 2024
- In collaboration with:
- Oleksandra Davydenko
- Programme
- Bachelor – Animation
- Practices
- Honours Programme
- Minor
- Visual Culture
Lost in trivial topics, the dysfunctional Trashworth family’s dinner reflects a world where real issues are merely side dishes…
Synopsis
Fathoming Dinner is an animated short film directed by me and Oleksandra Davydenko, whereas the characters were brought to life by Nilsu Mengi’s animation direction. Its luxurious setting features a family of four — Narcissa, Gulliver, Ivan, and Kuma Trashworths — whose dinner turns into a wild battlefield. Rather than addressing the profound issues connected to their meals, they dive into a hilarious feud over plastic surgery and cheating rumors. Brace yourself for a dark satire that serves as a poignant commentary on current society’s inclination to quarrel over insignificant matters, all the while neglecting the weightier issues at hand and nourishing its growing indifference.
Posters by Oleksandra Davydenko (left) and Anouk Seelt (right)
Director’s note
With Fathoming Dinner, my co-director Oleksandra and I aim to spark dialogue about the pressing societal issues we often ignore amidst modern distractions. This animated short employs gastronomy as a metaphor to satirically explore weighty subjects like war, environmental crises, and human suffering.
The Trashworth family dinner serves as an absurdist world highlighting society’s obsession with material wealth and superficial pursuits at the cost of genuine human connection. Inspired by philosophical works on authenticity, our film delves into the perils of willful ignorance and losing sight of what truly matters.
Through dark humor, I strive to prompt self-reflection on how power, consumerism, and class divides overshadow crucial global concerns. In an age of social media distortion, Fathoming Dinner urges viewers to embrace mindfulness and reassess priorities.
Our intent is not to preach but to engage audiences in challenging discussions through the unconventional lens of satirical comedy. Having faced challenges in the past, we believe in laughter’s healing power to reveal truths about the human condition.
It is my hope that this film will inspire viewers to become more aware to the world around them.
The graduation show offers our audience a taste of an exclusive preview of the movie and an unforgettable watching experience!
Film Stills
Team
Leja Kancerevyciute – Director, producer, 3D backgrounds, animation
Oleksandra Davydenko – Director, art director, animation
Nilsu Mengi – Animation Director, animation
Nika Jeić – Line Producer
Venetia Theodosiou, Lilly-Zoe Merkel, Sophie van Geest, Yara Fahry – Animation
Anouk Seelt – Promotional Poster
Sebastiaan West – Original Soundtrack
Special thanks to – Alara Ilhan (3D modelling), Micky Van Diver (Voice of Gulliver Trashworth), Mooves, Het Cultuurfonds, Nicholas Westgård (Ceiling mural), Noémie Kohl (Compositing), Zarina Kyrgyzkhan (3D supervisor).
Contacts
More of my works: https://www.instagram.com/artbyleahk/
More behind the scenes content: https://www.instagram.com/loleksandra__studios/
