Produced by N9ve and directed by its founder, Alessandro Novelli, “The Guardian” is a dense, enigmatic short film inspired by Franz Kafka’s parable, “Before the Law.”
While Kafka’s works are often interpreted as commentary on the absurdities of government and the tyranny of social norms, N9ve’s interpretation is more psychological:
A peasant after traveling the world arrives in front of a gate, controlled by a fearsome guardian. The peasant tries to pass through but the guardian denies him entrance.
Peasant and guardian are the same character. The peasant, like each one of us, in front of his own fear; the guardian, something shapeless, that surrounds and control him. The door/gate [represents] the possibilities we encounter during our life.
The soundtrack by BCNSOUND is sparse and mysterious, the perfect complement to the surreal discordance of the visuals.
Behind the scenes
The making of video shows extensive use of Cinema 4D to produce what ultimately resembles cel animation.
Credits
Production:
N9ve – n9ve.it
Direction:
Alessandro Novelli
Animation:
Alessandro Novelli
Victor Perez
Andrea Gendusa
Illustration and Design:
Alessandro Novelli
Karolina Pospischil vimeo.com/thepospischil
Andrea Gendusa vimeo.com/user37850011
3D:
Victor Perez – Character Animator, 3D Modeling
Alessandro Novelli – 3D modeling, 3D animation
Gabriele Maiocco – 3D heads modeling and Zbrush artist gabrielemaiocco.com/
Andrea Gendusa – 3D modeling, 3D animation vimeo.com/user37850011
Original Music:
Simon Smith bcnsound.com
Sasha Agranov
Voice Over:
Luis De Velasco
Musicians:
Sasha Agranov
Music Recording and Mixing:
Eric Nagel – at BCNSound – BCN – bcnsound.com
Voice Over recording:
Juan José Rodriguez – at Abuela Records – MX
Mastering:
Yves Roussel
Many thanks to:
Leandra Boj cargocollective.com/leandraboj
Rafael Mayani rafaelmayani.com/
Xavier Sanchez behance.net/xave
and Karolina Pospischil vimeo.com/thepospischil
for their posters.
Special Thanks to:
Simon, Sasha and BCNsound (bcnsound.com) , Laura Sans Gassó, Ana Isabella Byrne Bellorín, Mariana Perfeito, Luis De Velasco