Reviving the Myth
cinematography:
Pierre-Etienne Larrous
starring:
Claire Friesen
director:
Natalie Karpushenko
choreography:
Serap Yilmaz Rigault
music:
Peruquois
narrative:
Alexandra Seaman
[The film, Reviving the Myth is open for option]
When looking at the world as it stands today, with its endless wars, violence, hunger, inequality, resource depletion, and climate disasters, it seems that only a miracle, or as believed in the Abrahamic world, a Messiah, can save it. But what if the Messiah is not one person or even a demigod, but a group of people who, realizing their unity and possessing unique sets of knowledge and talents, save the world together? And what if the Messiah wears lipstick?
Reviving the Myth is a call to action for a world that needs the healing influence of feminine leadership to thrive.
The last century has seen significant discussion about the exceptional role of women in society. If we still consider the world as a duality of poles, the duality of masculine and feminine energy, we are interested in exploring how the world might change if a feminine approach to leadership and management began to prevail. We specifically describe it as an approach because it is not inherently exclusive to women; this approach can be defined as a soft-power approach or love-based leadership. To be precise, both approaches are valid for any individual. This means not all women choose to interact with the world through love-based leadership, just as not all men follow a path of intimidation, toughness, and competition.
As we know, times define morals, and with them, societal trends and demands evolve. For much of history, the role of a leader was associated with the tyranny of power. However, the world has gradually begun to seek alternatives. We are convinced that, in this renaissance of the technological revolution, humanity has no other choice but to embrace love-based leadership at every level of interaction with reality.
The short film, Reviving the Myth was conceived to highlight the significance of a female perspective in leadership during an era of profound existential challenges. It emphasizes empathy, beauty, collaboration, and care for nature and the interconnected world. At its core, the film reimagines the ancient myth of the man and the whale, a legend deeply rooted in Abrahamic traditions and echoed across Asian, Indian, and African mythology. Traditionally, the interaction between man and whale symbolizes the quest to understand life itself.
Overwhelmed by the suffering of Earth and humanity, and unable to bear witnessing the world’s unraveling, this reinterpretation shifts the focus to a woman, a figure lost and lonely. In a dream, she hears the Ocean calling with its timeless wisdom. As she surrenders to its depths, female angels appear to guide and support her. Together, through connection with the whales, these women rediscover their inner strength, truth, and purpose. They weave a narrative of collaboration and compassion, illuminating a path forward for humanity rooted in love and guided by the wisdom of nature. Original footage of whales and women immersed in the ocean creates a profound visual language, showcasing the transformative power of human collaboration inspired by nature’s wisdom. Reviving the Myth is a call to action for a world that needs the healing influence of feminine leadership to thrive.