
This week’s Staff Pick Premiere, “The Absence of Eddy Table,” from director Rune Spaans is a leech-filled love story that’s as compelling and creepy as it is stunning.
Based on the comics of Dave Cooper, the film is the story of an unassuming man who’s dropped into a universe that’s anything but. In contrast to Eddy’s plain-and-tidy appearance, the forest he finds himself in is brimming with beauty. Led by a mysterious glowing orb, the buck-toothed Eddy soon finds that the prettiest parts of his new surroundings are also the most malicious.
We caught up with director Rune Spaans to get the backstory behind “The Absence of Eddy Table.” Read on for excerpts from our conversation.
On the inspiration for the film:
“It all started with Dave Cooper, the artist who created the Eddy Table character and comics. I’ve been a fan of his work since being introduced to his oil paintings 10 years ago. I felt this unique blend of cartoon design and 17th century art in his work, and I imagined it would look incredible in CG animation.”
On the film’s aesthetic:
“The story and characters are based on the comics, but I wanted the film’s lighting and surfaces to be closer to Dave’s paintings. His paintings have this amazing quality where everything looks warm, wet, and sticky; it feels familiar, but still very alien. I was hoping this would give the audience the feeling that Eddy is lost in a feminine world. To him, this seems alluring and seductive, but also dangerous.”
On process:
“In making this film, I looked at a lot of the work that inspired me when I was just starting out. The works of Michaël Dudok de Wit have been particularly important to me, especially ‘The Monk and the Fish’ and ‘Father and Daughter.’ I love how he structures his films with an instantly graspable premise. He gently pulls the viewer into something more profound.”
On advice for aspiring filmmakers:
“There are three things I’ve learned that have been very valuable for me. One, don’t expect anyone to knock on your door saying, “You do nice stuff, here’s some cash to make a film!” To be able to do what you want, you have to push yourself ahead. Second, find the personal angle in everything you do — that’s the key to making your project unique. Third, make sure you really, really love a project before starting it. A film (and particularly an animated film) is something you’ll work on for years. Pick something that truly resonates with you.”
On what’s next:
“At the moment, I’m directing an animated feature for a family audience. It will premiere in the fall of 2020. After that, I hope to return to making shorts. I have a couple of projects that I badly want to do. Like ‘The Absence of Eddy Table,’ they’re based on comic books that I love and want to see on the big screen.”