The tale of Wilderness follows the journey of three wandering adolescents that have independently congregated to form a sisterhood family unit of their own, together facing the struggles and obstacles of life as a whole. This film is unique in its powerful storytelling of youthful belonging and uncertainty prevalent during a such time of searching. 

The short film is the first collaboration between Melbourne based brother-sister design duo Bats of Leisure and director Lewis Vivian Eyers-Stott, with a haunting soundtrack supplied by Dary Karimi. Filmed in conjunction with the label’s co-designer, Aoife Billings, it is made apparent that the youthful spiritualism of Wilderness is critical in exhibiting the Bats of Leisure aesthetic in both design and symbolism.

Eyers-stott’s narrative is founded upon a consideration of the mystical and the spiritual in an interesting play of ritual and alternative spirituality, captivating the viewer in a ritualistic world of mysticism that collectively mirrors the inner turbulence and suburban boredom that drives the three lithe sorceress’ to the wild.

Wildness serves as a critical form of introspection wherein a divergent scope of encounters are connected to rituals of experiencing, reflecting, and healing are cinematically captured within the frame of the screen space. Though throughout the film the idea of ritual and reflection, whether be in a literal, or autonomous sense is inescapable. Wilderness offers a space for the consideration of semantic reflection, as the viewer engages in the act of introspection, using the screen as a critical tool for its own unique activity to reflect. In this narrative, a triad of ritual, healing and are all linked through with escapist thematic dealt with through mystical, almost existential, pagan rituals that speaks directly to a youthful audience.

The director recognises intuitively and psychologically that the screen space is an emotive framework that is simultaneously mystical and mediative. Eyers-stott’s use of fractured jagged editing and symbolic motifs set against desaturated colour palettes painted delicately against melancholy seashores act to bring to life his mystical story.

Wilderness screened as part of the VAMFF 2015 Cultural Program.  For more information on the Fashion Film Series screenings, click here.