14 in February
2023 · 9m · Australia
Directed by Victoria Singh-Thompson
Genres: drama
Tones: contemplative, dark, surreal
A hard-of-hearing student's reality begins to unravel as she spends more time with her teacher, exploring childhood trauma and dissociation inspired by Nabokov's Lolita.
Picked by Margot
The scouts
Hard-of-hearing student, Nabokov-adjacent grooming arc, cast a deaf dancer with no acting experience. The casting is the bravest decision in the synopsis; the source material is the most fraught.
Casting a deaf dancer with no acting experience as a Lolita-inspired protagonist, building trauma through soundscape rather than incident — Singh-Thompson is choosing the Lynne Ramsay route. Sydney Film Festival, Palm Springs, formally serious, and I am paying attention.
Casting a deaf dancer with no acting experience as a hard-of-hearing student processing dissociation is a methodology decision, not a representation one — and using imagery and soundscape rather than graphic content to carry the Lolita weight is the disciplined call. 9 minutes, the formal restraint is the point.
Reviews
As visually still as it is emotionally frantic, with a focused lens pulling viewers into its young protagonist's point of view, accented with purposeful jarring sounds.
The imagery and soundscape in the 9-minute drama give emotional impact and take precedence over any sensationalist considerations, resulting in a mesmerising and thought-provoking film.
Festivals
- Sydney Film Festival 2023
- Young Director Award 2023, Gold Screen Winner
- Ciclope Asia 2023, New Talent in Direction Winner
- Palm Springs International ShortFest 2024, Nominee
- St Kilda Film Festival 2024, Best Achievement in Editing
- London Short Film Festival 2025
- Glasgow Short Film Festival 2025