Opinion
Content warning: postpartum psychosis, depression, baby loss, suicidal thoughts.
Francie is a well-crafted short that draws the viewer into the disorientating world of a grieving mother, Francie (Aimee Cassettari), suffering from postpartum psychosis. Intimate camerawork keeps us close to her fragile state, while the sound design, shifting between music, amplified domestic noise and overlapping voices, mirrors her fractured perception of reality.
The film captures the tension of a family under strain as the mother withdraws from her partner, Adam (Dave Hart) and older child, Lily (Mila Thursfield). Made on a modest budget, it is intended to provoke a wider conversation on perinatal mental health. A bold and affecting portrayal
Director Statement
As a filmmaker, I’ve always wanted to tell stories with women at their core, exploring themes we’ve mostly been deprived of in cinema for generations.
“Francie” was inspired in part by the book and subsequent Netflix film “The Lost Daughter” which subverts the norms of motherhood we often see presented in media.
The story encouraged me to read up on postnatal depression, something I had heard of but never engaged with. After my deep dive I felt drawn to writing this uncomfortable but powerful story about a woman suffering from an extreme case of postnatal depression and psychosis.
The shot design was a core focus of both the script and final product. We intentionally kept close to our lead throughout the bulk of the film, inhabiting her space with her as she struggles through her psychosis and the real world around her is partially obscured. The cinematography overall intended to create an unnerving contrast to the subject matter with stark beauty and serenity.
Dialogue in the film is minimal and where present is mostly internal to our lead, manifesting as a broken memory. This bold approach, executed brilliantly by our sound designer and mixer team has left the film with a haunting quality that befits the tone.
In making “Francie” I was honoured to work with an incredible crew and post-production team. Their support, ideas and hard work made the production and post-production process incredibly collaborative and enjoyable.
