This week’s Staff Pick Premiere, “Simbiosis Carnal,” from animator, illustrator and painter, Rocío Álvarez is a poetic journey through the history of sex. After playing at more than one hundred film festivals around the world, we are thrilled to finally premiere it online here, on Vimeo.
Starting with the first unicellular organism, “Simbiosis Carnal” uses organic animation techniques to trace sex all the way up to the modern tinder era. In doing so, the film unpacks morality, repression and ultimately, the desires that unite us.
In honor of today’s premiere, we reached out to Álvarez to learn more about the film and its origins. Here’s what she had to say.
On beginning the project:
Álvarez: “I started with illustrations of a couple transforming into animals while having sex. I thought the images were powerful and that it would be nice to animate them. When I decided to make the film, I wanted to try to tell something. Making an animation short film is a super long process and I didn’t want it to only be a pretty thing. I wanted to convey a message.”
On the interest of sex:
“I was interested in capturing how humans are all connected to our animal and cellular past. I wanted to show the importance of sexuality, without the misogyny and repression. It’s like going back to our animal roots to be free. I read books that inspired me for this, like ‘La Fabuleuse Histoire du Clitoris’ by Jean-Claude Piquard, who tells how throughout history humans have deliberately ‘found’ and ‘hid’ the women’s pleasure organ.”
On prepping for the film:
“It was hard to put all the ideas I had into a coherent story. I wanted to convey this information in a nice, poetic and fun way. So I filled several notebooks with ideas about how to make the film understandable without words. I also worked a lot in the animatic to find the right timing. I think rhythm is one of the most important qualities of a film.”
On developing a style:
“It was challenging to develop a coherent style. I experimented a lot. I painted on paper, then in a TV paint program, then I painted over glass. It was a long process to find the right textures and style but I enjoyed it.”
On the importance of trying something true to you:
“I think when you create you have to have fun. The more you make what you like instead of responding to ‘normal’ patrons, the more people will like it. But at the same time, it’s important to know what your message is and to ensure that your audience will understand it.”
On mixing it up:
“I like change. The past few months I’ve been making films and my personal illustrations. But, I’m also painting big murals this year. Next year, I will make another animation film.”
