Nihče ni nikoli gledal slonov kot ti In production 2025

No One Ever Looked At Elephants as You Do
  • Short Animated Film
  • 10'
  • s.d.
  • Slovenia, North Macedonia

Synopsis

Pregnancy. Early motherhood. New life! Did something grow inside me or I grew into the Earth Mother?

An intimate insight into early motherhood reveals the roots of life perceived from the viewpoint of two individuals that were once one. Unwanted toys on the playground form a synergetic bond with nature. A fertile soil gives birth to seeds, plants and small colorful objects. A baby travels into distant worlds in the mother’s womb, while a garden compost sings a lullaby. The pregnant woman is not shy and shows her belly growing. But she shyly reveals the Polaroid photo of her baby sprayed with breast milk. Nature grows a small microcosms of organisms on the photo to ease her self-absorption. The Earth is budding up with all the mommies in the world and they are building a farm together.

Director's statement

I anticipate this animation to be a powerful intimate vision into my growth during the process of early maternal life. Because I experienced pregnancy and early motherhood as a fairly isolated journey

I anticipate this animation to be a powerful intimate vision into my growth during the process of early maternal life. Because I experienced pregnancy and early motherhood as a fairly isolated journey, I have an irresistible feeling of sharing this superimposed emotional state. I feel the best way to do this is by means of images and poetry. Abstract to some extent. Controlled but without any need to be in control. On the other hand, I am quite intrigued by how we look at things, in particular how babies, unburdened by societies interact with objects in everyday life. I cannot help but notice that a small baby gazes at things that have eyes. By photographing different portraits and aligning them in such a way that the eye has its own trajectory, I want to explore if the brain distinguishes the depictions normally due to the natural flow of movement. The same goes for shapes and patterns. Following the idea of a fluid natural cycle I want to explore how textile or printed patterns can be transformed into organic arrangements. Along the same lines I shall experiment with drawings on paper and other objects by burying them in the ground or merging them with natural materials to get a more interrelated backgrounds or excerpts. In such a way, I wish to balance the rough visual material and bring it closer to the poetic narrative. Therefore, unlike classical animation, objects, entities and transformation of forms will become the basic protagonist of the story and the mix of different animation techniques and styles will altogether constitute the language of the film and give it a patina of dirt, chaos and ultimately, life. What is more, the music and sound design are tightly tied to the rhythm of the animation. The sonic mood board is predominately highlighted by the sound of percussion, jazzy tunes, now and then accompanied by singing in harmony. However, having said all that, another, perhaps a most important director’s vision comes from the new being that entered my life and makes each day a valuable new lesson. Hence, I would leave a vast amount of this director’s vision unspoken, to let new growth come to life.

Nihče ni nikoli gledal slonov kot ti (s.d.)

Gallery (3)

Writing

Sandra Jovanovska
screenwriter

Direction

Production

Nina Robnik
producer
Miha Černec
producer
Mihaela Trupi
executive producer

Animation

Sandra Jovanovska
lead animator

Music

Ivan Antić
music composer

Editing

Iva Kraljević
film editor

Costume design

Mateja Fajt
costume designer

Sound design

Ivan Antić
sound designer

production

Staragara
production
Art Proekt Lab
co-production
Filmski studio Viba film
in collaboration with
Slovenski filmski center - SFC
co-funding
Ustvarjalna Evropa
co-funding
Staragara
distribution
Staragara
sales
Alternative title
No One Ever Looked At Elephants as You Do (English)
Animation technique
stop motion
Production countries
Slovenia, North Macedonia

Technical data

Duration and length
10'
Colour
Colour
Screening formats
digital DCP

Budget

All financial information is obtained from official sources. I.e. producers or organizations which provided the financial support.

Grants
Slovenski filmski center - SFC
Javni razpis za sofinanciranje slovenskih animiranih filmskih in avdiovizualnih projektov – 2022
Comitee: Matija Šturm, Jure Bušić, Zarja Menart Explication

Eksperimentalni avtorski animirani film mlade avtorice prikazuje zanimiv kolaž predmetov, fotografij in otroških risb, ki nas postopoma zapelje v intimni svet vezi, ki se tkejo med mamo in otrokom. Menimo, da je izbrana tehnika stop animacije za raziskovanje tako organske teme izredno primerna. Projekt je že prejel sredstva za razvoj projekta pri Slovenskem filmskem centru in izkazuje inovativnost in avtorski pristop ter pripravljenost za vstop v fazo realizacije. Menimo, da ima film zelo velik festivalski potencial in producente usmerjamo na čim boljšo festivalsko distribucijo filma.

2022
source: Slovenski filmski center
Slovenski filmski center - SFC
42,300.00 EUR
Slovenski filmski center - SFC
Javni razpis za sofinanciranje slovenskih animiranih filmskih in avdiovizualnih projektov – 2021
Comitee: Jure Bušić, Anka Kočevar, Matija Šturm Explication

Scenarij nam predstavi avtobiografsko izpoved o doživljanju ene izmed najbolj osnovnih človeških interakcij. Serija podob iz vsakdanjika nas popelje na vizualno raziskovanje vezi med materjo in dojenčkom. Podobe iz vsakdanjika prikazujejo tako realne kot abstrahirane motive, pri čemer se abstrakcija usmerja predvsem v iracionalno in emotivno otrokovo doživljanje. Film se zaključi s poetičnim zaključkom, ki ubesedi preplet čustev in čiste realnosti.

2021
source: Slovenski filmski center
Slovenski filmski center - SFC
10,500.00 EUR

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