Writer, director, and producer – Emma Josephson adds a magical touch to this endearing short film, I Felt Like Magic. We follow best friends – Cam (Tala Fatemi) and Elise (Amanda Torquato). But their feelings soon turn emotional, nostalgic, and sentimental as they reminisce about their childhoods. Alongside director of photography, Duncan O’Bryan, Emma Josephson creates stunning visuals to represent the two leads’ beautiful dreamscape full of childhood hopes and dreams.
Turning to the good old days when life was less worrisome – they transport back into their younger selves. Feeling a departure from the past is something everyone can relate to – no matter the generation. Delving into the genres of magical realism and drama, we feel like we’re inside the combined dream of the two leads. As Elise declares the meaning behind the film in the powerful line – “The world was so much cooler when we were kids, right? I feel like I’m forgetting what it’s like to think anything was possible.”
Heartfelt & Whimsical
The two leads are very well cast with absolute believability that they’re best friends. Their sad, heartfelt, and whimsical memories sweep them out from the drain of their real life and into the peak of their childhoods. When we enter their dreams a beautiful colour gradient fills the screen. Alongside its poster, which feels surrealist in dreamscape colouring.
But the most beautiful shot of the film comes at the ‘forts’ scene. A bright purple colour scheme takes over the scene – from the purple veil to the character’s costumes. They look like little kids again with their braided hair, pyjamas, and popcorn to represent a cute sleepover. Their environment is surrounded in positivity. With fluffy carpets and stuffed animals adding to this calmness and serenity. As an audience, we too wish to be a part of this scene.
I Felt Like Magic speaks on the young adult experience. Particularly the tough line between growing up and acting like an adult. Sometimes our adult responsibilities can get overwhelming and make us want to retreat back to the care-free time of childhood. And this film makes you feel exactly that.
I Felt Like Magic: Hopes & Desires
A child-like naivety fills their heads when they were younger. Until now, they’re feeling lost whilst trying to get into a bar with a fake ID. I Felt Like Magic also touches on hopeless dreams and childhood fantasies. What we grow up to be might not be what we hoped as children. There’s a few magical lines scattered throughout the film as we delve into the separate childhood memories of both the leads.
Whilst Elise remembers building forts surrounded in dreams, Cam sits under the trees surrounded in nature where “the trees always listen” to her thoughts. Both leads are framed in purple and blue. The pastel-like colour schemes replicate the whimsical magic of such theming. These include forts, nature, rainbows, and positive childhood memories as they express that “being a kid felt so special.”
Whimsical, magical, and dream-like – I Felt Like Magic mixes feelings of hope and desires with memories and longing. But its calming nature with the soft, moving score also creates an atmosphere where you too want to be a part of these two strong female characters stories. Perhaps closest to the subject matter is young adults like myself whose childhood did not feel too long ago but adult responsibilities soon took over whatever dreams we once manifested.
Rating: 4 Stars
You can read all about the 11th Femme Filmmakers Festival here.
