Related Images invites readers behind the scenes and into the sketchbooks of working filmmakers to learn more about their creative processes.
Susanne Deeken’s A Place without Fear is now showing exclusively on MUBI.
Initially, I began working on the film in my London studio, employing both analog and digital techniques. However, a visit to Detroit transformed my perspective entirely. I was overawed and deeply inspired.
Struck by the city's cultural wealth, the contradictions of its beauty and decay, and the well of possibilities, complexities, and tensions it offered, along with the abundance of derelict houses, I felt compelled to relocate the majority of the film work there.
It was an opportunity to immerse myself in a real, tangible physical space and work on a considerably larger scale than I had undertaken before.
I rented an abandoned house and utilized every surface, from walls to ceilings to floors, as a canvas for stop-motion animation technique.
Subsequently, I combined this with analog and digital renderings created in London.
The intention behind this film is to illustrate the internal struggles and turmoil of the human mind through a nonlinear storytelling style. Themes of abandonment, abuse, heroic rebellion, victory, and loss interweave in an ever-repeating loop. As the narrative unfolds, we are left questioning whether our protagonist is a victim, a perpetrator, or both, trapped in a never-ending cycle of achievements and failures.
While the film does not aim to provide a social commentary on Detroit's history and sociopolitical issues, it draws upon the city's energy and spirit. I embraced the city's grasp, allowing it to permeate the atmosphere and mood of the narrative.
The production of this film embarked on an unconventional and ambitious voyage.
Almost every aspect, from concept to script, animation, photography, lighting, props, digital rendering, editing, and sound was created and produced solely by me.
Segments of the music were created in collaboration with Detroit jazz and experimental musicians.
I invite you to join me on this winding journey, delving into the depths of the mind's struggle, as it unfolds against the backdrop of Detroit's captivating energy.
