Myth mixes with lush sensuality in this experimental short film based on Metamorphoses, the work of the ancient Roman poet Ovid. The viewer is immersed in flowing imagery of water, cloth and naked flesh while a French voiceover regales us with the tale of Hermaphroditus.

According to Greek mythology, Hermaphroditus was the beautiful child of Hermes and Aphrodite (Venus and Mercury). Stalked by a nymph because of his beauty, he was set upon while bathing. The nymph wrapped herself around him in the pool and called upon the gods to make them one. Thus, their bodies blended and the child became two-sexed. Hermaphroditus became a symbol of androgyny or effeminacy and was often depicted as a female figure with male genitals.

This film works to spark the imagination with metaphorical images to accompany the poetry.

French filmmaker Samuel Bester describes himself as a video artist. In his bio at Film Freeway he says: “By exploring ambiguity through nuance, distortion or accident, I increase the dynamics between perception, interpretation and emotion. Using an often metaphorical poetic language, I amplify curiosity by blurring apparent meanings, thus producing unexpected mental images.”

From Pink Label TV: “Based on Hermaphrodite from Book IV of Ovid’s Metamorphoses, translated by Marie Cosnay.”

You can find the full film at Pink Label TV

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