Liminal (2023)

The short student film Liminal (2023) by Tamara Avakyan discusses the inner child – delving into the liminal landscapes of the soul and mind. But what does this term mean, which has become most famous recently, especially on platforms like Instagram and Pinterest? It most commonly refers to empty, dreamy, and in some way intimately familiar spaces. In such a space, we find not a single person, only a sense of their presence. Avakyan decided to use this iconic visual symbol in two ways. First, as a stylistic guide, but primarily as a metaphor for self-exploration. It was navigating the inner world, where the voices of your parents, close friends, and even internet influencers materialize all too realistically. Each tells you what to do, how to look, and who to be. And if they’re not telling you that, they’re saying, “Just be yourself!” So, is this a coming-of-age film? If we perceive this work as the anxiety of adolescence in the era of late capitalism and its associated pressures, then undoubtedly. But if we see it as a testimony of a journey and a reflection on the past, we must look to other genres that would suit this film. Undoubtedly, it would be classified as a “psychological drama” or “horror.” This is also due to the stylistic treatment contributed by cinematographer Adam Kácha and lighting designer Martin Krupa. These two components together make Liminal and create what sticks in the memory. Nausea, bewilderment, incomprehension, confusion, inhumanity, and fear are the themes of this work. It’s something you experience with Liminal.