2023 HOLLYSHORTS FILM FESTIVAL REVIEW!
A slow-moving, visceral telling of the human mind. Writer-Director Matthew Modine invites viewers into a world so twisted and otherworldly, yet so reminiscent of the world in which we live. I Am What You Imagine is a unique look at the heart and mind, a tale that connects to everyone, and a journey into the imagination.
Editing is the thing that stood out to me the most throughout the course of my viewing of I Am What You Imagine. Fractured visuals, narration, and sound are blended together in a way that makes them feel whole, like they are one, cohesive tale. Much like the human mind, I Am What You Imagine is fractured, incapable of remaining on a linear path throughout its entirety, and Editor Terence Zeigler had his work cut out for him with this film. While every single piece of this film feels like a fractured piece of a whole, Zeigler is tasked with piecing it together and making sense of the whole thing. While Modine writes and directs and Ruby Modine and Leon Vitali narrate the film, it’s Zeigler that effectively tells the story. Sure, the film is a veritable mess at first glance, but Zeigler makes it whole, brings the story to life, and acts as the catalyst for all that the film has to say. I can’t say enough about him; he’s effectively the lifeblood of I Am What You Imagine.
Next in line is the aforementioned Vitali and R. Modine. Their voices are so serene, so passionate and powerful, that I Am What You Imagine nestles its way into the hearts of viewers. Much like the visuals and the sounds present in the film, their voices almost feel otherworldly–as if they don’t even belong to humans. They are so unique, and they help to solidify M. Modine’s vision from the first seconds up to its conclusion. I felt drawn into them by their words and their tone–and once they had a grip on me, there was no way for me to escape.
Last, but certainly not least, is Writer-Director M. Modine. He’s effectively the man of the hour, the person responsible for bringing I Am What You Imagine into existence. Beyond what viewers see on screen, Modine tasked himself with creating something so unique, so left-of-center, and I think he hits the nail on the head. How do you explain a dream? How do you explain the thousands of thoughts and emotions running through your head at any given moment? I have ADHD–I suffer from ADHD, and while I Am What You Imagine should feel overwhelming, it was actually one of the few times that I was able to sit back and think to myself that this is exactly how my brain functions. It’s a clusterfuck of images and sound, and it perfectly represents how I feel on a daily basis. I know that I’m not alone–and I truly believe that even those with (quote, unquote) neurotypical brains have experienced an onslaught of thoughts and emotion that has overwhelmed them. I Am What You Imagine encompasses the thoughts and ideas of the majority in a new way–and I don’t believe that anyone comes away from this film unscathed.
Just like the human psyche, I Am What You Imagine is difficult to explain. It’s a strange combination of sound and sight that attempts to bring to life the daunting journey of the human mind, it's a mess, it’s haunting–and, yet, it feels like one of the most accurate representations of the human mind that I’ve ever seen. M. Modine, with spectacular help from R. Modine, Vitali, and Editor Zeigler, brings to life a fantastical film with serious implications. It’s stunning, and it’s genius.
Written & Directed by Matthew Modine.
Starring Ruby Modine & Leon Vitali.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐½/10
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