Filmmaker Statement

In Unfamiliar Tongues is a visual exploration of a lovers quarrel through dance. The thought behind the making of this film stemmed through an observation of how the frustration of two lovers can express itself differently when finding themselves in a conflict and what role gender can play into this, making us feel as if we speak in different languages because we're socialised in different ways. This difference is expressed in the choreography through two different dance styles, modern dance and ballet. It’s essentially a visualisation of how a conflict grows within this couple where the choreography takes us through the different emotional stages of the conflict. The stages such as: The beginning of sensing a difference that later leads us to the impulse to push away one another to protect ourselves and as the conflict intensifies - to finally land in a mutual stage of agreement and exhaustion as well as our love for each other.