Rebecca Van Fraassen

Desiderium

Desiderium: a state of ardent desire or longing, especially a feeling of loss or grief for something lost.Desiderium is a short horror film based on the story “The Monkey’s Paw” written by W.W. Jacob’s in which three wishes are granted to the holder of a cursed paw. The narrative contains a warning about our elusive human desires and the price for altering fate. In our need to control every aspect of our lives there are consequences for the ways in which we interfere with nature. This film is a reminder that our intentions can not protect us from facing the loss or grief that we fear.After her father’s death, Ana is left feeling as if she is completely alone in the world. This film allows us to experience the loss of Ana’s grasp on reality brought by an ancient curse, a Dj’iin, and grief. Ana’s reality holds a mirror to a world that seems beautiful and light while simultaneously revealing the dark twisted hands of fate.

“Rebecca Van Fraassen is a Toronto based painter, animator and filmmaker. Rebecca wrote and directed her debut film, Desiderium with Emmanuel Garofolo.The short horror film creates a landscape of human emotion to reveal the deep psychological influence of isolation. Rebecca's style includes dark humour, non-professional actors, and surreal animations. Her films are bound with themes of the occult, evoking the primitive horror and catharsis of esoteric symbolism in narrative cinema.As someone with a disability, Rebecca looks at personal narratives to address themes of isolation. Rebecca’s films propose the potential to exist in a different world than the one we inherited. For Rebecca, filmmaking is an invitation to think beyond the material world and instead hold a vision of the next one.Rebecca is currently completing her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at OCAD University.”