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{{short description|2014 film}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2014}} {{Use dmy dates|date=December 2017}}
{{Infobox film {{Infobox film
| name = Rocks in My Pockets | name = Rocks in My Pockets
Line 5: Line 6:
| caption = Film poster | caption = Film poster
| director = ] | director = ]
| producer = Signe Baumane, Sturgis Warner, Co-Producer | producer = Signe Baumane
| writer = Signe Baumane | writer = Signe Baumane
| starring = Signe Baumane | starring = Signe Baumane
Line 11: Line 12:
| cinematography = | cinematography =
| editing = | editing =
| distributor = ], New Europe Film Sales, Locomotive Productions, Yekra, Ltd. | distributor = ]<br>]<br>Locomotive Productions, Yekra, Ltd.
| released = {{Film date|2014|7|7|]|2014|8|22|Latvia|2014|9|3|USA|df=yes}} | released = {{Film date|df=y|2014|7|7|]|2014|8|22|Latvia}}
| runtime = 88 minutes | runtime = 88 minutes
| country = Latvia<br>United States | country = United States<br>Latvia
| language = English<br>Latvian | language = English
| budget = | budget =
| gross = $1.03 Million
}} }}


'''''Rocks in My Pockets''''' ({{lang-lv|'''Akmeņi manās kabatās'''}}) is a 2014 ] written, produced, directed and animated by ]. It was originally created in English and a Latvian version was thereafter translated and produced. The film is based on true events about five women of the filmmaker's family, including herself, and their battles with depression and suicide. '''''Rocks in My Pockets''''' ({{langx|lv|'''Akmeņi manās kabatās'''}}) is a 2014 Latvian-American ] ] ] film written, produced, directed and animated by ]. It was originally created in English and a Latvian version was thereafter translated and produced. The film is based on true events about five women of the filmmaker's family, including herself, and their battles with depression and suicide.


It was selected as the Latvian entry for the ] at the ], but was not nominated.<ref name="87th">{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-latvia-nominates-rocks-my-733119 |title=Latvia nominates Rocks in My Pockets |accessdate=16 September 2014 |work=Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> The soundtrack, composed by Kristian Sensini, has received a nomination at the Jerry Goldsmith Film Music Awards in the Best Movie Soundtrack category. It was selected as the Latvian entry for the ] at the ], but was not nominated.<ref name="87th">{{cite web |url=http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/oscars-latvia-nominates-rocks-my-733119 |title=Latvia nominates Rocks in My Pockets |accessdate=16 September 2014 |work=Hollywood Reporter|date=16 September 2014 }}</ref> The soundtrack, composed by Kristian Sensini, has received a nomination at the Jerry Goldsmith Film Music Awards in the Best Movie Soundtrack category.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Premios Jerry GoldsmithJerry Goldsmith Awards - FMF|url = http://filmmusicfestival.org/en/jerry-goldsmith/|website = filmmusicfestival.org|access-date =4 February 2016}}</ref>


== Plot == ==Plot==
In the late 1920's, Anna, a young Latvian woman, pretty and educated, falls in love with an adventurous entrepreneur, 30 years her senior. But with marriage comes great jealousy, and the entrepreneur hides Anna away in the forest, far from other men, where she bears him eight children. The Great Depression hits them hard. Then Latvia is overrun with invasions by the Soviets, then the Nazis, then the Soviets once again. Anna is a pillar of strength, defying the hardships, raising her young, teaching them survival secrets of the forest. But something inside her is terribly wrong. In the late 1920s, Anna, a young Latvian woman, pretty and educated, falls in love with an adventurous entrepreneur, 30 years her senior. But with marriage comes great jealousy, and the entrepreneur hides Anna away in the forest, far from other men, where she bears him eight children. The ] hits them hard. Then, during ], Latvia is overrun with invasions ], ], ]. Anna is a pillar of strength, defying the hardships, raising her young, teaching them survival secrets of the forest. But something inside her is terribly wrong.


Years later, Signe, a young artist, asks her father, "How did my grandmother die?" Her father is evasive. His seven siblings are evasive, as well. Signe strongly suspects that Anna committed suicide. Clues of mental illness had always leaked through the family stories. Signe suffers from depression herself. Her suicidal fantasies get her locked away for four months in a Soviet mental institute. Three of her cousins, all women, battle madness as well. Could there be a link between Anna and the four granddaughters? Defying the stigma that silences so many, Signe takes us on a journey deep into her own depression where she looks to confront the family demons.  Years later, Signe, a young artist, asks her father, "How did my grandmother die?" Her father is evasive. His seven siblings are evasive, as well. Signe strongly suspects that Anna committed suicide. Clues of mental illness had always leaked through the family stories. Signe suffers from depression herself. Her suicidal fantasies get her locked away for four months in a Soviet mental institute. Three of her cousins, all women, battle madness as well. Could there be a link between Anna and the four granddaughters? Defying the stigma that silences so many, Signe takes us on a journey deep into her own depression where she looks to confront the family demons.


== Cast == ==Cast==
] provided voice-overs for her own animated film, acting out all the parts of her various family members in the conversations she remembered having with them. The English dialogue was recorded again by Signe, translated for the Latvian version. ] provided the narration, under the supervision of theater director ]. The dialogue was recorded in both English and Latvian, for the two versions of the film.


== Release == ==Production==
===Writing===
⚫ The film premiered in July 2014 at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic and was shown at the Animator Film Festival in Poland, the Athens International Film Festival in Greece, the San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain, and the London International Animation Festival, among others.
Signe Baumane wrote the script for ''Rocks in My Pockets'' in 2010, based on her family history. In an unconventional manner, no storyboards were created, only the script was used as a blueprint for the development of the animation.<ref name="Rocks in My Pockets">{{Cite web|title = Rocks in My Pockets|url = http://www.rocksinmypocketsmovie.com/Process.html|website = www.rocksinmypocketsmovie.com|access-date = 8 February 2016}}</ref>


===Financing===
The film opened in limited release in the United States on September 4, 2014, distributed by Zeitgeist Films. It also was released in Latvia by Locomotive Productions.
''Rocks in My Pockets'' was partially funded by grants from NYSCA and the Jerome Foundation in 2010. The organization Women Make Movies became a fiscal sponsor of the film, and Baumane also ran some fundraising events and an ] campaign. An additional Kickstarter campaign was initiated in 2013 to raise $42,800 in order to complete the coloring, editing, sound and music for the film. With the help of 800 backers, that campaign surpassed its goal and raised $50,780 to finish the production and help with translation, publicity and festival entry costs.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Rocks In My Pockets|url = https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1055277857/rocks-in-my-pockets/description|website = Kickstarter|access-date = 8 February 2016|language = en-US}}</ref>

===Filming===
In order to create a visual style for the film that combined elements of both 2D and 3D animation, 28 sets were constructed using plywood, cardboard boxes, and paper-maché, which were then painted to resemble rooms, forests and city streets. The sets were then photographed with a digital camera as either still pictures, or in sequences to create a stop-motion effect. These digital photos then served as backgrounds for the hand-drawn characters, made in pencil on paper using a lightbox. For the entire film, approximately 30,000 drawings were created, and then scanned into Photoshop where they were colored digitally. The individual drawings were composited into sequences using AfterEffects, and output as QuickTime files, which were then edited using Final Cut Pro.<ref name="Rocks in My Pockets"/>

==Reception==
===Release===
⚫ The film premiered in July 2014 at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic, where it won the International Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award, as well as a Commendation from the Ecumenical Jury. It was subsequently screened at over 130 other film festivals, including the Animator Film Festival in Poland, the Athens International Film Festival in Greece, the San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain, and the London International Animation Festival, winning a number of awards.

The film opened in New York City on 3 September 2014, and was released in 35 U.S. cities, distributed by Zeitgeist Films. It also was released in Latvia by Locomotive Productions. "Rocks In My Pockets" is now available for streaming and downloads on a number of platforms, and is also available on DVD.

===Critical response===
Overall, the response of film reviewers was widely favorable. Alissa Simon described it in '']'' as "boasting a narrative of extraordinary complexity and density, stuffed with irony, humor and tales-within-tales" and "a fascinating and very personal look at mental illness, as well as familial and societal dictates and dynamics."<ref>{{Cite web|title = 'Rocks in My Pockets'|url = https://variety.com/2015/film/reviews/karlovy-vary-film-review-rocks-in-my-pockets-1201261523/|website = Variety|access-date = 4 February 2016|language = en-US|first = Alissa|last = Simon| date=11 May 2015 }}</ref> Nicolas Rapold of '']'' wrote, "Signe Baumane presents a sharp, surprising and funny animated feature, plumbing the depths of depression via her family history. It's told with remorseless intelligence, wicked irony and an acerbic sense of humor."<ref>{{Cite news|title = 'Rocks in My Pockets,' an Animated Film About Depression|url = https://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/03/movies/rocks-in-my-pockets-an-animated-film-about-depression.html|newspaper = The New York Times|date = 2 September 2014|access-date = 4 February 2016|issn = 0362-4331|first = Nicolas|last = Rapold}}</ref> In '']'', Boyd van Hoeij wrote, "Animated in a striking combination of real paper-maché sets and props and hand-drawn 2D figures, the film explores with wit, surreal invention and insight something left far too often undiscussed."<ref>{{Cite web|title = 'Rocks in My Pockets': Karlovy Vary Review|url = http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/review/rocks-my-pockets-karlovy-vary-717653|website = The Hollywood Reporter| date=10 July 2014 |access-date = 4 February 2016}}</ref>

The film attained exceptionally high ratings among U.S. reviewers: a 100% score based on 22 reviews at ], as of July 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|title = Rocks in my Pockets|url = http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/rocks_in_my_pockets/|website = www.rottentomatoes.com|date = 3 September 2014|access-date = 1 July 2019}}</ref> In December 2019, animation web-site Zippy Frames ranked ''Rocks in My Pockets'' ninth on their list of the 20 Best Animation Features of the 2010s, stating, "Coming before the #metoo movement was ever adopted, it is a surrealistic and poignant tale of empowerment that it is an essential element of this decade."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.zippyframes.com/index.php/news/top-indie-animation-features-decade|title=The 20 Best Indie Animation Features of the 2010s|last=Kroustallis|first=Vassilis|date=2019-12-27|website=Zippy Frames|language=en-GB|access-date=2019-12-31}}</ref>

===Accolades===
The film has received the following awards:<ref>{{Cite web|title = Rocks in My Pockets|url = http://www.rocksinmypocketsmovie.com/Screenings.html|website = www.rocksinmypocketsmovie.com|access-date = 8 February 2016}}</ref>
* ]
** Winner, International Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award
** Commendation, Ecumenical Jury
* ], Poland
** Best Feature Film, 2014
* ], Latvia
** Best Feature Film, 2014
* ], Italy
** Sky Arte Award
* ] Festival, Czech Republic
** Special Mention - Best Animated Feature Film for Adults
* ], Lithuania
** Special Mention, "Baltic Gaze" program
* Docs Barcelona & Medellin, Colombia
** Best Documentary, 2015


==See also== ==See also==
Line 41: Line 77:


==References== ==References==
{{reflist}} {{reflist|30em}}


==External links== ==External links==
* {{IMDb title|2961890|Rocks in My Pockets}} * {{IMDb title|2961890|Rocks in My Pockets}}
* '''' official website * '''' official website

{{Latvian submission for Academy Awards}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Rocks In My Pockets}} {{DEFAULTSORT:Rocks In My Pockets}}
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] ]
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⚫ ]
] ]
] ]
]
{{Latvia-film-stub}}
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{{animated-film-stub}}
]
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Latest revision as of 19:43, 3 November 2024

2014 film

Rocks in My Pockets
Film poster
Directed bySigne Baumane
Written bySigne Baumane
Produced bySigne Baumane
StarringSigne Baumane
Music byKristian Sensini
Distributed byZeitgeist Films
New Europe Film Sales
Locomotive Productions, Yekra, Ltd.
Release dates
  • 7 July 2014 (2014-07-07) (Karlovy Vary)
  • 22 August 2014 (2014-08-22) (Latvia)
Running time88 minutes
CountriesUnited States
Latvia
LanguageEnglish
Box office$1.03 Million

Rocks in My Pockets (Latvian: Akmeņi manās kabatās) is a 2014 Latvian-American adult animated psychological comedy-drama film written, produced, directed and animated by Signe Baumane. It was originally created in English and a Latvian version was thereafter translated and produced. The film is based on true events about five women of the filmmaker's family, including herself, and their battles with depression and suicide.

It was selected as the Latvian entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 87th Academy Awards, but was not nominated. The soundtrack, composed by Kristian Sensini, has received a nomination at the Jerry Goldsmith Film Music Awards in the Best Movie Soundtrack category.

Plot

In the late 1920s, Anna, a young Latvian woman, pretty and educated, falls in love with an adventurous entrepreneur, 30 years her senior. But with marriage comes great jealousy, and the entrepreneur hides Anna away in the forest, far from other men, where she bears him eight children. The Great Depression hits them hard. Then, during World War II, Latvia is overrun with invasions by the Soviets, then the Nazis, then the Soviets once again. Anna is a pillar of strength, defying the hardships, raising her young, teaching them survival secrets of the forest. But something inside her is terribly wrong.

Years later, Signe, a young artist, asks her father, "How did my grandmother die?" Her father is evasive. His seven siblings are evasive, as well. Signe strongly suspects that Anna committed suicide. Clues of mental illness had always leaked through the family stories. Signe suffers from depression herself. Her suicidal fantasies get her locked away for four months in a Soviet mental institute. Three of her cousins, all women, battle madness as well. Could there be a link between Anna and the four granddaughters? Defying the stigma that silences so many, Signe takes us on a journey deep into her own depression where she looks to confront the family demons.

Cast

Signe Baumane provided the narration, under the supervision of theater director Sturgis Warner. The dialogue was recorded in both English and Latvian, for the two versions of the film.

Production

Writing

Signe Baumane wrote the script for Rocks in My Pockets in 2010, based on her family history. In an unconventional manner, no storyboards were created, only the script was used as a blueprint for the development of the animation.

Financing

Rocks in My Pockets was partially funded by grants from NYSCA and the Jerome Foundation in 2010. The organization Women Make Movies became a fiscal sponsor of the film, and Baumane also ran some fundraising events and an IndieGogo campaign. An additional Kickstarter campaign was initiated in 2013 to raise $42,800 in order to complete the coloring, editing, sound and music for the film. With the help of 800 backers, that campaign surpassed its goal and raised $50,780 to finish the production and help with translation, publicity and festival entry costs.

Filming

In order to create a visual style for the film that combined elements of both 2D and 3D animation, 28 sets were constructed using plywood, cardboard boxes, and paper-maché, which were then painted to resemble rooms, forests and city streets. The sets were then photographed with a digital camera as either still pictures, or in sequences to create a stop-motion effect. These digital photos then served as backgrounds for the hand-drawn characters, made in pencil on paper using a lightbox. For the entire film, approximately 30,000 drawings were created, and then scanned into Photoshop where they were colored digitally. The individual drawings were composited into sequences using AfterEffects, and output as QuickTime files, which were then edited using Final Cut Pro.

Reception

Release

The film premiered in July 2014 at the Karlovy Vary International Film Festival in the Czech Republic, where it won the International Film Critics (FIPRESCI) Award, as well as a Commendation from the Ecumenical Jury. It was subsequently screened at over 130 other film festivals, including the Animator Film Festival in Poland, the Athens International Film Festival in Greece, the San Sebastian International Film Festival in Spain, and the London International Animation Festival, winning a number of awards.

The film opened in New York City on 3 September 2014, and was released in 35 U.S. cities, distributed by Zeitgeist Films. It also was released in Latvia by Locomotive Productions. "Rocks In My Pockets" is now available for streaming and downloads on a number of platforms, and is also available on DVD.

Critical response

Overall, the response of film reviewers was widely favorable. Alissa Simon described it in Variety as "boasting a narrative of extraordinary complexity and density, stuffed with irony, humor and tales-within-tales" and "a fascinating and very personal look at mental illness, as well as familial and societal dictates and dynamics." Nicolas Rapold of The New York Times wrote, "Signe Baumane presents a sharp, surprising and funny animated feature, plumbing the depths of depression via her family history. It's told with remorseless intelligence, wicked irony and an acerbic sense of humor." In The Hollywood Reporter, Boyd van Hoeij wrote, "Animated in a striking combination of real paper-maché sets and props and hand-drawn 2D figures, the film explores with wit, surreal invention and insight something left far too often undiscussed."

The film attained exceptionally high ratings among U.S. reviewers: a 100% score based on 22 reviews at Rotten Tomatoes, as of July 2019. In December 2019, animation web-site Zippy Frames ranked Rocks in My Pockets ninth on their list of the 20 Best Animation Features of the 2010s, stating, "Coming before the #metoo movement was ever adopted, it is a surrealistic and poignant tale of empowerment that it is an essential element of this decade."

Accolades

The film has received the following awards:

See also

References

  1. "Latvia nominates Rocks in My Pockets". Hollywood Reporter. 16 September 2014. Retrieved 16 September 2014.
  2. "Premios Jerry GoldsmithJerry Goldsmith Awards - FMF". filmmusicfestival.org. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  3. ^ "Rocks in My Pockets". www.rocksinmypocketsmovie.com. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  4. "Rocks In My Pockets". Kickstarter. Retrieved 8 February 2016.
  5. Simon, Alissa (11 May 2015). "'Rocks in My Pockets'". Variety. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  6. Rapold, Nicolas (2 September 2014). "'Rocks in My Pockets,' an Animated Film About Depression". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  7. "'Rocks in My Pockets': Karlovy Vary Review". The Hollywood Reporter. 10 July 2014. Retrieved 4 February 2016.
  8. "Rocks in my Pockets". www.rottentomatoes.com. 3 September 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2019.
  9. Kroustallis, Vassilis (27 December 2019). "The 20 Best Indie Animation Features of the 2010s". Zippy Frames. Retrieved 31 December 2019.
  10. "Rocks in My Pockets". www.rocksinmypocketsmovie.com. Retrieved 8 February 2016.

External links

Latvian submissions for the Academy Award for Best International Feature Film
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