Sarah Rae Franklin 2025

Abstract

The film is a 2D animated short with a runtime of approximately six minutes. It aims to investigate the following question: How can I harness the connection between lived experience and nature to create a new narrative about suicide? The story follows Lump, a reclusive 20-something, trying to enjoy her fragile life with her lone friend in the city. What little stability she has is shattered when her past finally catches up to her, and she throws up a salmon in a dingy bar bathroom. To thrive, she must decide if she can embrace vulnerability and open up not only to herself but to those who wish to help her. This film explores the difficult experience of living after a suicide attempt, from the remembrance of the trauma to the terrifying ordeal of letting people in. It studies these ideas by using the symbolism of the salmon, and the surrealism of becoming one with it as a lens to understand the cycle of life in the face of suicide.