Status : Verified
| Personal Name | Castañeda, Mark Russel Royo |
|---|---|
| Resource Title | Shadow Play |
| Date Issued | 5 January 2026 |
| Abstract | The film follows Sandro, who wakes up to what seems like a usual morning with his wife, Mary, and their daughter, Kirsten, trying to keep things light despite Mary’s distance. As he struggles to protect Kirsten from an unseen presence, an argument with Mary finally breaks the illusion, forcing Sandro to face the truth about Kirsten’s and Mary’s deaths. The goal of Shadow Play is to feel like we’re inside a home that’s holding its breath, watching grief unfold in real time, with no relief and nowhere to hide. That’s why the film is designed as a single, unbroken long take. While shadow play is literally a form of storytelling, the film doesn’t rely on a literal “shadow puppet” element to justify the title. Instead, it uses shadow play metaphorically, pointing to illusions and hidden truths—things we can see moving around us, yet can’t fully grasp, just like trauma and death. These shadows aren’t just atmosphere; they embody what each character can’t escape: Kirsten’s violation, Mary’s trauma, and Sandro’s grief and denial. It makes us feel that everyone is carrying brokenness and still trying to survive. But for others, death feels like liberation—the only way to escape. The film recognizes that every person is different, and everyone copes with pain in their own way. |
| Degree Course | BA Film |
| Language | English |
| Keyword | thesis film; film; narrative film; psychological; drama; cinema; one-long take; family |
| Material Type | Thesis/Dissertation |
Preliminary Pages
2.01 Mb
Category : F - Regular work, i.e., it has no patentable invention or creation, the author does not wish for personal publication, there is no confidential information.
Access Permission : Open Access