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I  am You

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"When his obsessive-compulsive disorder becomes a living, breathing entity, a young man must confront his inner struggles head-on, learning that acceptance and self-love are his greatest allies in order to reclaim his life.”

Intro

The protagonist of the story is Rob, a young adult in his 20s who lives with obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD).

The film portrays the struggle of facing and overcoming life’s challenges when the biggest obstacle standing between you and your goals is yourself.

With this film, I aim to raise awareness about mental health issues and explore the difficult journey toward self-acceptance.

I believe this project will resonate with many people, from those struggling to accept and embrace their true selves, to those who know someone battling mental health issues, or who experience them firsthand.

Making of

The character of OCD looks exactly like the main protagonist, so the actor playing Rob also takes on the role of OCD.

How? By splitting the screen in half during post-production. This technique allowed us to show both characters in the same shot, engaging in a realistic conversation.

Coordination was crucial. The actor needed to deliver the lines for both roles with precise timing to ensure that he could realistically interact with himself.

To achieve this effect, we enlisted Miia, the actress who plays Phoebe, to also portray Rob/OCD during split-screen scenes. She rehearsed with Gideon, the main actor, to perfect the timing. During rehearsals, they would run through the entire dialogue together, then switch roles and perform it again.

Miia also played both roles for other types of shots—for example, when Rob and OCD appear in the same shot but only specific body parts, like an arm or a leg, are shown. For these scenes, the two actors were, of course, dressed identically.

Aesthetics

The first part of the film uses mostly still, symmetrical shots to depict the protagonist’s world. As the character begins to confront his irrational thoughts, the shots become more unstable and asymmetrical. This shift was achieved by using a handheld camera.

Additionally, the first part of the film is set entirely in Rob's apartment, emphasizing the confined and claustrophobic feeling caused by intrusive thoughts, obsessions, and compulsions.

As the story progresses, we see Rob leaving the safety of his home and stepping into the outside world, where the second part of the film unfolds.

For the park scene, I played stylistically with reflections in the water and the long afternoon shadows. Both elements represent the theme of duality, which is central to the film, as well as the metaphor of OCD constantly shadowing Rob in his daily life.

What kind of OCD?

There are many types of OCD, and unfortunately, many stereotypes surround it. For example, it’s not always about being overly organized and clean.

My goal in creating this short film was to highlight other aspects of OCD—those that people might not expect—because many individuals with mental disorders don’t outwardly appear to be struggling.

Rob’s apartment is mostly neat and organized, but not excessively so. For example, in his bedroom, there are some clothes draped over a chair, a pile of disorganized papers, and a bit of dust here and there.

I chose to build Rob’s OCD around repetitive gestures and rituals, which are very common, rather than focusing on organization and cleanliness.

Personal comment

Creating this film felt like experiencing my own journey toward self-acceptance.

It’s very important to me to emphasize that you never truly know what others are going through. Anyone could be dealing with personal issues, past traumas, or mental health disorders. Many people who struggle don't show it outwardly, yet in our society, there is often a mistaken belief that if someone can still function and lead a 'normal' life, they aren’t really suffering.

In the past, some people told me that I don't have OCD because they couldn’t see it—but they had no idea what was happening in my mind, with all my intrusive thoughts and images. They have no right to judge.

It is disheartening to see how much empathy and understanding are still lacking in our society. There should be no stigma around discussing or addressing mental health struggles or illnesses.

I am You

Berlin, May 2022

Cast & Crew
Cast

Gideon Kensy as Rob/OCD

Miia Matala-aho​​ as Phoebe and Rob/OCD in split-screens

Crew

Written and directed by Rupali Reintjes

Producer:

Jakob Leskopf Gautason

Cinematography:

Léa Raymondi

Öykü Bargan

Production Design:

Jost Weinberger

Miranda Siegel

Editor and Sound Designer:

Lior Klein Stern

VFX Effects: Rupali Reintjes

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Colorist:

Marco Puerto

Music Composer:

Skyler Hill​​​​

Different Kinds of Lies

Berlin, April 2022

"A young woman, haunted by the disconnect between her words and her true emotions, is drawn into an unexpected night of connection that forces her to confront the lies she tells — both to others and to herself."

Cast &
Crew
Cast

Genoveva Álvarez as Keira

Galadriel Daufresne​​ as Brie

 

Valentin Schaak​​ as Matt

Crew

Written and directed by Rupali Reintjes

Producer:

Elliot Falces

Cinematography:

Karun Gill​

Editor:

Kaito Sashihara

Music Composer:

Ruairi Corrigan

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the film
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