A creepy, lonely girl invites an adult couple to join her for dinner at her house made entirely of meat, but their unbridled gluttony pushes her to eventually offer them her very own flesh.

SIC Pictures is thrilled to present "GRETEL," an innovative digital stop-motion short film that reimagines the timeless tale of Hansel and Gretel with a thrilling twist. In this story, the roles are intriguingly reversed: Gretel is a young girl who encounters an elderly couple in a dark and mysterious scenario that explores the complexities of desire and consumption. Helmed by director Denalda Berisha, "GRETEL" combines the tactile charm of hyperrealistic silicone puppets with the sleekness of 3D animation, creating a unique visual experience that’s both eerie and mesmerizing.

This film isn't just a feast for the eyes; it's a deep dive into the passage from childhood to adulthood, touching on themes of generational conflict and the myth of Kronos. By flipping the classic narrative, the film challenges you to rethink everything you know about fairy tales. We’re inviting you to join us on this journey and help bring this daring project to life. Back "GRETEL" today and be a part of a story that blends the fantastical with the profound, offering a fresh and unforgettable take on a beloved classic.

An Echo-Horror Experimentation 

We don’t inherit the land of our ancestors, we borrow it from our children. – Saint Exupery

The visual style of "GRETEL" draws heavily from the genre of eco-horror, a fitting choice for this narrative's unsettling exploration of human desires and societal critiques. The film amplifies its commentary on environmental degradation through disturbing and symbolic imagery. The grotesque acts of consumption in the film portray the reckless exploitation of natural resources, illustrating the consequences of environmental neglect. The haunting depiction of waste and excess reinforces the film's critique of how past generations' environmental missteps impact the world of tomorrow. Through this visual and thematic framework, "GRETEL" confronts the viewer with a powerful reflection on ecological responsibility and the dire repercussions of humanity’s actions.

Innovative Technique and the Aesthetics of the Uncanny 

The innovative use of animation in "GRETEL" allows for a distinctive and stylized approach that deliberately distances the viewer from the on-screen violence, creating a more reflective and thought-provoking experience. By employing stop-motion animation, the film harnesses the tactile nature of handcrafted puppets, enhancing the eerie effect of the "uncanny valley." This technique, with its hyperrealistic portrayal of flesh and intricate character movements, generates an unsettling atmosphere where the familiar becomes disturbingly alien. The stop-motion's inherent imperfections and the meticulous attention to detail in puppet design contribute to this sense of uncanny strangeness.

The integration of 3D animation further enriches this effect by introducing a shift from the tactile, handcrafted aesthetic of stop-motion to the sleek, smooth realism of digital animation. This hybrid approach not only contrasts the tactile with the digital but also manipulates the audience's expectations and perceptions. Initially, the film's stop-motion quality evokes a nostalgic, handcrafted charm, but as the narrative progresses and transitions into 3D animation, it challenges the viewer’s sense of reality, heightening the overall disquiet. This seamless blend of techniques creates a layered visual experience that keeps the audience on edge, compelling them to confront the unsettling themes of the film from a fresh, unsettling perspective.

Embodied Metaphors

In GRETEL, the characters serve as vessels for universal concepts, their portrayal steeped in metaphor and symbolism rather than detailed psychological backstories. Gretel, ​​a 15-year-old, represents the fragility and transformative journey of youth. Initially depicted with a menacing presence reminiscent of horror movie tropes, her role evolves from that of a feared figure to a sacrificial symbol of youthful innocence transitioning to adulthood. This transition mirrors ritualistic rites of passage, where the young must symbolically 'die' to be reborn into maturity, a concept explored through Jungian symbolism. Surrounding her are totemic animals like the lizard, embodying self-repair and metamorphosis, and the caterpillar, representing transformation into a new form.

The elderly couple, —one aged 60 and the other 30— in contrast, symbolizes the ignorance of previous generations regarding environmental and societal responsibilities. They embody the dangerous consequences of neglecting these duties, their ignorance portrayed through their disregard for the impact of their consumption. The condor, featured prominently in their environment, underscores the theme of responsibility and the need for mindful resource use.

Symbolic numbers also play a crucial role: sixty (the number of the beast), thirty (symbolizing the trinity), and fifteen (associated with balance and renewal) deepen the narrative's layers of meaning. The film’s aesthetics, from hyper-realistic puppets to symbolic costumes and settings, aim to evoke both empathy and discomfort, encouraging viewers to reflect on these themes from multiple perspectives.

Digital Stop-Motion : focus on an innovative process

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