05/07/2024 - A mother and son overcome their fear through outstanding humour and queer sexual fantasies in this Animafest Zagreb prize-winning short by Daniel Sterlin-Altman

The winning film of Animafest Zagreb's student competition, Carrotica is a short comedy from Germany by Daniel Sterlin-Altman that captured the jury’s attention with its unique narrative. This picture exemplifies the originality and diversity often associated with student films, which are known to provide festivals with a breath of fresh air through their new auteurist vision. With its juicy humour, Carrotica transports viewers into a surreal world, blending erotic and comedic elements to explore themes of courage, vulnerability and personal growth.

Telling the story of a single mother and her gay teenage son who navigate their desires and loneliness in the queerest of ways, Carrotica expresses a joyful sharpness throughout. As he tries to write an erotic novel, the son’s voice-over adopts a seductive tone in an undefined Eastern European accent, delivering a string of risqué and amusing lines. Obsessed with genitals and sex, he explores his own sexual orientation and desires. Meanwhile his mother, who avoids social gatherings and meeting new people, entertains herself with vivid, imaginative fantasies involving carrots. Through these features, the film ironically introduces erotic genre elements that serve to provide space for exploring the characters’ fears and vulnerabilities. Many scenes blend fantasy with reality, blurring the line between the two. Despite experiencing vastly different desires, the mother and son share common struggles, with the feeling of shame being the most obvious example. They also wrestle with summoning the courage to break free from their shells. For the boy, the ambition is disclosing his gay identity to his mother; for the mother, it’s letting go of her peculiar obsessions and embracing a genuine, fulfilling life with authentic connections.

Sterlin-Altman tells the story through puppetry techniques. The environments and settings where the action unfolds are methodically crafted to resemble real-world locations such as contemporary housing or schools. This realism is striking in the setting’s intricate details that mirror our everyday environments. The puppets themselves feature minimal facial features, yet convey emotions effectively thanks to sound effects, editing and text. The colour palette is vibrant, predominantly in reddish carrot tones, occasionally contrasted by darker shots that enhance the overall visual experience. Every aspect of the film is strongly characterised by sharpness and boldness.

Carrotica brings its viewers both amusement and reflection with its whimsical yet poignant exploration of personal and familial dynamics that resonate on a deeply emotional level. The film's blend of humour and vulnerability creates universal appeal, helping its themes of courage, self-discovery and acceptance land with a wide audience. The invitation for them to consider their own journeys and relationships thus ensures Carrotica has lasting impact beyond the screen.