Festival Focus - Mask
Over the last couple of years, we may have increased feelings of anxiety when in crowds due to the length of time we have spent isolating. This collective feeling of discomfort and fear is represented in Mask, a story of redemption for a social phobia sufferer.
This student piece is an abstract representation of agoraphobia, the fear of places and situations that induces anxiety or panic. Mask is the attempt to escape these feelings despite how hopeless it may feel.
Trying to quieten a rambling inner monologue feels impossible, and to confront your excruciating emotions and overcome them seems even less likely. We are brought through this journey in silence, as no words can truly depict what these feelings are. It is tense, scary, and at times claustrophobic.
Mask has managed to engage mental health and horror in a way that does not stigmatise the condition, something that a lot of directors could learn from. It evokes feelings of empathy as we cannot understand what someone is going thorough unless we are going through the same thing ourselves. This film projects a very personal experience, yet there is also a shared understanding.
