GENIUS LOCI (2020)

Are there any skills that you will always admire in others? Like seeing someone masterfully play a musical instrument or juggle or quickly pick up multiple languages. One of those skills that constantly leaves me awe-struck is being able to draw well. Not in any one particular style, just creating some visual imagery that is readily apparent and emotionally evocative.

Adrien Merigeau’s 2020 Oscar-nominated short GENIUS LOCI is especially impressive because it combines so many different artistic styles in its tight 15 minute run time. There’s the more abstract Impressionism and Cubism influences; the street-level graffiti creations; and some visuals that harken back to old woodcuts and even more tribal efforts. These various modes combine with the drifting narrative (and narration) to perfectly encapsulate the sense of wandering through a world, contemplating everything around you and feeling both totally apart from it and utterly akin with all of it.

There’s a very loose plot for GENIUS LOCI, mostly it’s a mood piece that evokes many familiar feelings. But the summary is as follows:

One night, Reine, a young loner, sees within the urban chaos a mystical oneness that seems alive, like some sort of guide.

As a Vimeo Staff Pick, there’s an excellent interview with director and co-writer Merigeau that touches on the concept, the efforts to make this award winning film.