THE TOWER (Sleeping Dogs)

Existential struggle in a dystopian location (One-shot movie that gradually reveals its otherworldly setting) 

The film starts centered on a person, seemingly in some sort of lonely struggle against the elements. The view slowly widens to show the desolate and dystopian surroundings. 

The story and visuals speak more of an inner world, of a place of disconnectedness, struggle and isolation we can sometimes find ourselves in. 

In the film, it is not entirely clear if the location is real or if it is a visualised metaphor of a place. (It was actually filmed in a real location, you can also see some large cargo ships in the background) The revelation of the intense solitude and stark desolation of the place comes as a bit of a shock, exacerbated by the music created by the experimental electronic duo Torn Relics.

The artwork featured on the fabric and at the end is called ‘Sleeping Dogs’, with mythological associations of Underworld/Otherworld and transformation. The saying ‘let sleeping dogs lie’ also alludes to buried or exiled memories or parts of one’s personality.

The film is shot by photographer Felix Friedmann and edited by Riza Nazim Ulusoy (Raz Naz).

Credit Arlette-Ess