FOR film to be art it must evoke emotion. When the owner of Found Studio (established in 2008), Mike Sharpe, and floristry artist, Rebecca Louise Law, met through a mutual connection – they discussed producing a project together. Law knew instantly what story she wanted to create. She fell in love with mother nature (who inspires her art) after reading The Sinful Priest by Émile Zola and she wanted to show her appreciation of the text through film. Zola’s book tells the tale of priest Serge Mouret and an innocent young girl Albine who strike up a romance in the remote village of Le Paradou which is abundant with flowers.
When their illicit romance was discovered by Serge’s former Monsignor, he is instantly reminded of his faith and feels guilty for his apparent sins. Serge suddenly returns back to his faith and abandons Albine in the process.
Empty and alone, Albine constructs a deathbed made of flowers that she tears from the garden that betrayed her. Albine lays in her floral creation and slowly dies of asphyxiation. The sad ending of Albine is the inspiration for the film that explores the complex relationship between humanity and earth.
The eight-minute short uses symbolism to communicate the feelings of Albine as she carries out her suicidal intent. Kent, known as the garden of England, is the stunning location for the film that also uses fast-paced editing, sound and visual effects to delight its viewers. Whether you know the backstory to the plot or not, Death of Albine offers an intriguing insight into life, love and death.
by Joseph Furness