Being Someone Else - Raindance Film Festival 2020

Imogen is a teenager in the autistic spectrum in her case it can cause her sensory overload and in Øyvind Aamli’s engaging short film we are given a glimpse into her world.

At thirteen Imogen has been through a number of schools that have difficulty understanding her condition and coping, as such the easiest solution was to throw her out. So her education has been patchy, she is being home schooled and resentful. That treatment has led to insecurity and no friends but through cosplay, her designing the costume and its creation, we get an insight into Imogen’s character.

Imogen is the sole narrator as she prepares to attend Comi-con dressed up as an anime character. The cosplay is an escape and a coping mechanism. It’s the details are the key here as we get indications of her irritations; when the costume is not prepared to her satisfaction but then also the liberation and satisfaction of the costume once its complete, when she’s at the convention with likeminded people.

It’s revealing that though she takes on the role of a character when dressed and at conventions, she is still very much grounded in reality as she relates her life experiences.

Aamli is stand offish as a director, with Imogen the only person in shot at any time – until the end – although others are present. As such the viewer is totally concentrated on Imogen who has the freedom to say what she wants and is blunt about her school experiences, and their shortcomings as establishments.

This is one of those films that you initially think should have been longer however on consideration it works fine as a snapshot of a specific time in Imogen’s probably very complicated life.

Being Someone Else is playing as part of the Raindance Film Festival and will be available on line.