Imago is an animated short film that deals with the topics of loss, the passing of time and, also, the passing on of a passion.
The film opens with a young boy running through a field with a plane in his hand. We quickly grasp that he shares this passion for planes with his dad, who is a pilot. When the storm comes we are led to deduce, via unstated, off-camera metaphorical allusions, that the bad weather claims the father’s life. A series of tracking shots shows viewers the passage of time and the fact that, from father to son and then from grown-up son to future grandson, the passion for flying endures. An “imago” is an unconscious idealised mental image of someone that is formed in early childhood and influences one’s behaviour, and what appeals in this film is the notion that this may be transmitted to others without even trying. So, beyond loss, this film addresses the idea of inter-generational transmission.
What is more, the passion for flying that travels through time and is passed on from father to son brings to mind the legend of Daedalus and Icarus. We see that sometimes one can be driven by a passion that leads to our downfall.
Gentleness and subtlety are at the heart of this film thanks to the pastel-coloured artwork and the decision to not use words. Propeller noises, a peel of laughter or the sound of the wind hurtling into the sea serve either as evocative disruptors of the silence or apposite accompaniment for the melancholic piano.
The softness of the music and of the palette of pastel colours chosen to address a delicate topic help make Imago a film to watch as a family.
