Sarah Lessard

The Witch's Guide to Identity and Illusion

“The Witch’s Guide to Identity and Illusion” (2022) is a 3-minute, 2D-animated short narrative film retelling of the classic Greek mythological story of Hades and Persephone.

“This piece is an ode to my past self and past art practice honouring my roots as a traditional painter. Using painterly techniques in a digital format to create a piece that represents my personal artistic growth throughout the past four years. Following the main character Stevie, as she summons the goddess Persephone. The goddess reflects on the circumstances surrounding her capture, looking back on the events from a different perspective. This piece is a coming-of-age story containing a mix of fantasy and practices of modern-day witchcraft. With references to modern-day witchcraft practices, this film is a nod to my own practice in an attempt to connect with my heritage. My film centers around themes of identity and self-love. It is about learning to accept yourself and finding your own identity in a world that lacks acceptance. Aiming to empower young queer adults to seek and find their voices in a challenging world. As I am still learning how to love myself while finding my identity, this film is a gentle reminder to myself and others to always be kind to ourselves as we learn and navigate our way through life.”